Actor and comedian George Wendt, best known for playing Norm Peterson on the popular comedy series Cheers, passed away, according to his family.
His age was 76.
For everyone fortunate enough to have known him, George was a loving family man, a trusted confidant, and a cherished friend. “He will always be missed,” a family representative told CNN in a statement.
George Robert Wendt, Jr. was born on October 17, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Chicago area of Beverly, Illinois, with eight siblings from an Irish and German background. His maternal grandfather, Tom Howard, was a famous photographer best known for secretly photographing the infamous 1928 image of murderer Ruth Snyder being killed in the electric chair—one of the most notorious tabloid photos in history.
Born in Chicago, Wendt began his acting career in 1975, enrolling at the renowned improv school The Second City Mainstage. Throughout his nearly five-decade Hollywood career, he received six Emmy nominations.
he spent most of his career playing an everyman in comedy and drama. But every now and then he delved into the science fiction genre. Here’s every role ranked from worst to best.
9. Charlie in Alien Avengers II (1997)
Directed By Dave Payne
Alien Avengers II is a sequel to a television movie we’ll cover later. Two aliens named Charlie (George Wendt) and Rhonda (Julie Brown) become deputy sheriffs in a small western town. They serve justice to speeders and murderers while dealing with locals. Their daughter arrives, and TV reporters and government agents help. The movie tries to cover various genres but is unfunny and poorly scripted.
It’s the worst sci-fi movie that George Wendt made. There’s no way to stream it and that’s a good thing.
8. Father Mahoney in Aliens, Clowns & Geeks (2022)
Directed By Richard Elfman
Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is a film that follows Eddy Pine (Bodhi Elfman), an out-of-work actor who gets involved in interstellar mayhem. The film features a colorful horde led by Emperor Beezel-Chugg, played by Verne Troyer, and features cameos from George Wendt, Angeline-Rose Troy, Richard Elfman, and Anastasia Elfman.
Nic Novicki portrays a clown who takes dirty pictures of nuns in porta-potties, while 77-year-old George Wendt plays a priest who condemns him to eternal damnation.
The movie is repulsive but a cult hit with horror fans, so it’s not the best film to remember George Wendt’s legacy.
Watch it on Amazon Prime Video
Buy or rent Aliens, Clowns & Geeks (2022) on Amazon
7. Keller in Space Truckers (1996)
Directed By Albert Magnoli
Space Truckers is a film by late filmmaker Stuart Gordons, featuring Dennis Hopper as John Canyon, an independent space trucker. John’s relationship with Keller (George “Norm” Wendt) goes sour, and he seeks money from a mysterious client. He travels deep space with his fiancee Cindy (Debi Mazar) and young hotshot Mike (Stephen Dorff), carrying a mysterious cargo.
If nothing else you can watch 47-year-old Wendt gets sucked through a porthole by his butt. The film delivers undemanding B-level thrills.
Watch it on Hoopla, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Shout TV
Buy or rent Space Truckers (1996) on Amazon
6. George in Alien Avengers (1996)
Directed By Lev L. Spiro
Alien Avengers follows a group of space visitors Charlie and Rhonda (Shanna Reed) who encounter an innocent human Joseph in a dreadful place. They move into his building and start killing people they feel are evil. The film’s humor is obvious, and crude, and the situations are lame.
Wendt’s comic timing is honed from his time on Second City and Cheers. He and Reed carry the film with their goofy but endearing chemistry.
While the main characters are well-acted, the script is boggled by excesses and the windup is disappointing. Despite the initial silliness, the film’s eccentricity earns points for its attempt.
5. Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again (1982)
Directed By Jerry Belson
Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again is a raunchy 80s sex comedy. It centers on Jekyll, a surgeon, developing a medicine that transforms him into the insane party animal Hyde. Blankfield’s performance is all over the place and occasionally humorous.
This one also had some intriguing characters, such as Lin Shaye’s lustful nurse, George Wendt’s patient, and Cassandra Peterson aka Elvira as a nurse (while her face is covered, her chest is not).
Buy or rent Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again (1982) on Amazon
4. Ticket Agent in Airplane II: The Sequel (1985)
Directed By Thom Eberhardt
By 1985 Cheers was in its third season and 36-year-old Wendt was a television star. But he still made time for movies.
Airplane II: The Sequel is the follow-up to the wildly popular movie parody. This time it’s set in space and Wendt plays a ticket agent for
It was good to see George outside the pub, even though he only spent less than 30 seconds on the screen.
Watch it on Hoopla
Buy or rent Airplane II: The Sequel (1985) on Amazon
3. Barney Schlesinger in The Twilight Zone (1986): S2E04 – “The After Hours/Lost and Found/The World Next Door”
Directed By Paul Lynch, Bruce Malmuth, Gus Trikonis
George Wendt plays the role of Barney Schlesinger in the Twilight Zone episode “The World Next Door.” He’s a married guy who is miserable and lives in the basement. He primarily avoids his wife and has a penchant for creating bizarre inventions, gadgets, and toys.
In his dreams, he sees himself leading a different life where his innovations and marriage seem to be doing well. As is appropriate for a science fiction story, it ends with Barney discovering a secret door in his house that, you guessed it, opens the life he has been dreaming about! Overall, it’s a passable episode with little drama, but it’s entertaining and innovative.
Buy or rent The Twilight Zone (1986): S2E04 – “The After Hours/Lost and Found/The World Next Door” on Amazon
2. Harry Finley in Forever Young (1992)
Directed By Steve Miner
Forever Young follows Mel Gibson, a military test pilot, who proposes to his love, Isabel Glasser, but she dies. Gibson’s scientist friend George Wendt freezes him for a year to prevent her death. He goes to sleep for over 50 years before waking up in 1992.
He saves Wood’s mother and briefly moves in, starting a minor relationship with her. Gene Siskel disliked the movie for not exploring the relationship and Wendt’s character more. The director may have hoped to attract viewers with the cast.
Buy or rent Forever Young (1992) on Amazon
1. Charlie Prince in Dreamscape (1984)
Directed By Joseph Ruben
Alex Gardner (Patrick Swayze), a gifted psychic, is tasked with saving the President from a terrifying dream. He must plunge himself into the President’s nightmare, a nuclear holocaust wasteland, to prevent a terrifying battle that could only happen in a dream.
35-year-old George Wendt plays Charlie Prince. Prince is a horror writer who mainly provides exposition for the movie. He reveals that Bob is the most powerful man in the US government. Wendt does a good job but his character is mainly a plot device.
Dreamscape is the only sci-fi movie role that uses Wendt’s talent. His role isn’t huge but it’s the best he ever made.
Buy or rent Dreamscape (1984) on Amazon
Wendt said on the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast last year that he is “proud” of Sudeikis, the son of Wendt’s sister Kathy Sudeikis. He added that he is “such a great kid” and “so smart, so thoughtful.”
According to IMDb, Wendt’s final credit was 2024’s Love’s Second Act, a television film starring Jodie Sweetin.
Wendt is survived by his wife Bernadette Birkett and his three children, Hilary, Joe, and Daniel, who asked for privacy through a spokesperson.
