George Wendt, the actor who brought Norm Peterson to life on NBC’s Cheers, died peacefully in his sleep at home Tuesday morning. He was 76.
Wendt starred in all 275 episodes of the hit series, earning six consecutive Emmy nominations for his portrayal of the lovable Boston bar regular.
A native of Chicago, Wendt got his start in improv with the Second City comedy troupe before making it big in television. He later reprised the Norm role in Frasier and other series, and fronted his own short-lived CBS sitcom.
He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett—who voiced Norm’s unseen wife on Cheers—and their three children.