Norm on Cheers: What the Actor George Wendt Really Did After the Bar Closed

"Norm!"

If you can hear that single syllable echoing in your head—bellowed by a dozen gravelly voices in a wood-paneled basement bar—then you know George Wendt. For eleven seasons, he was the heart and soul of Cheers. He was the guy who made being a barfly look like a noble profession. But honestly, most fans have no idea that the man behind the mug was nothing like the beer-guzzling accountant he played for 275 episodes.

George Wendt wasn't just some guy they found on a barstool. He was a Chicago-bred improv powerhouse who almost missed out on the role because of a scheduling conflict. He eventually became one of only three actors to appear in every single episode of the show.

The Man Behind the Mug: George Wendt Explained

Let’s get the big news out of the way first, even though it still feels a bit heavy to talk about. George Wendt passed away on May 20, 2025. He was 76. It wasn't some dramatic Hollywood exit; he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles.

According to the official reports that came out shortly after, the cause was cardiac arrest. He’d been dealing with some pretty serious health battles—congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. It’s a reminder that while Norm Peterson seemed immortal behind that bar, the man playing him was human.

Wendt was a South Side Chicago guy through and through. He grew up in the Beverly neighborhood and actually got expelled from Notre Dame for having "the lowest GPA in the history of the university." He eventually got his act together and graduated from Rockhurst College, but it was his time at The Second City where everything clicked.

How the "Norm!" Greeting Started

You've probably wondered if the "Norm!" shout was in the script from day one. Kinda. In the pilot, Wendt was only supposed to have one line. Just one word: "Beer."

The writers realized pretty quickly that his chemistry with the rest of the cast was lightning in a bottle. They expanded the role, and the "Norm" greeting became the most famous running gag in television history. Every time he walked in, he’d have a world-weary zinger ready.

• Coach: "What's shakin', Norm?"
• Norm: "All four cheeks and a couple of chins."

It was simple. It was perfect. And it earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations.

Life After the Cheers Finale

When the bar finally closed its doors in 1993, everyone expected George Wendt to be the next big sitcom king. He tried. The George Wendt Show landed on CBS in 1995, where he played a mechanic with a radio show (basically a riff on Car Talk). It didn't stick. It lasted about six weeks.

But Wendt didn't disappear. He was a worker. He did everything from Broadway to voice-over work.

A lot of people don't realize he played Edna Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway. He absolutely loved it. He once called it one of his two favorite roles, right up there with Norm. He also popped up in The Little Rascals movie, Fletch, and even a Michael Jackson music video ("Black or White").

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If you’re a fan of Saturday Night Live, you definitely remember him as one of the "Bill Swerski's Superfans." The "Da Bears" guys. That was basically Wendt returning to his Chicago roots and having a blast with Chris Farley and Robert Smigel.

The Jason Sudeikis Connection

Here is a piece of trivia that usually wins people over at parties: George Wendt is the uncle of Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis.

Sudeikis has talked about how his "Uncle George" was the one who showed him that a kid from the Midwest could actually make a living in show business. When Wendt passed away, Sudeikis gave a moving tribute, calling him an "amazing guy" who was way more sophisticated and intellectual than the character he played on TV.

What Most People Get Wrong About Norm on Cheers

People always assumed George Wendt was a massive drinker in real life. Honestly, he wasn't. He liked a beer, sure, but he wasn't living at a bar. In fact, the "beer" he drank on set was usually near-beer—a non-alcoholic, room-temperature brew that was salted so it would keep a "head" of foam under the hot studio lights. It tasted absolutely disgusting.

He also wasn't "just" Norm.

Wendt was a classically trained improviser who could go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. He was married to Bernadette Birkett since 1978. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because she was the one who provided the voice for Norm’s never-seen wife, Vera. They were a real-life team for nearly 50 years.

Financial Reality: The Cheers Royalties

There’s a lot of talk about how much the norm on cheers actor walked away with. At his peak, Wendt was making about $200,000 per episode. In 1990s money, that was a fortune.

Even years after the show ended, the residuals were significant. Some estimates suggest he was still pulling in $50,000 a month just from Cheers being in syndication. By the time of his death in 2025, his net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. He wasn't living a flashy life; he was a family man who invested well and kept working because he loved the craft.

Why We Still Care About Norm Peterson

Norm represented something we’ve mostly lost in the modern world: a "third place." A spot that isn't work and isn't home, where people actually know your name.

Wendt played the character with a specific kind of "ordinary tragedy." Norm was an accountant who hated his job and had a complicated relationship with his wife, but at Cheers, he was a king. He was the smartest guy in the room who chose to be the funniest guy on the stool instead.

As we look back at his career in 2026, it’s clear that his legacy isn't just about the jokes. It’s about the warmth he brought to a medium that often feels cold and manufactured.

Actionable Next Steps for Fans

If you want to honor the memory of the man who brought Norm Peterson to life, here is how you can actually dive deeper:

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1. Watch the "Last Call" podcast: Just before he passed, Wendt did a reunion on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson. It’s perhaps the most honest interview he ever gave.
2. Read "Drinking with George": He wrote a book in 2009 called Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer. It’s funny, smart, and gives you a real sense of his actual personality.
3. Visit the real "Cheers" in Boston: After his death, the Beacon Hill bar set up a permanent memorial at the spot where his character’s fictional stool would have been. It’s become a bit of a pilgrimage site for fans.
4. Explore his non-Cheers work: Check out his performance in Art or his guest spots on Portlandia. It’ll show you a range that Cheers fans rarely got to see.

George Wendt wasn't just a guy in a suit with a beer. He was a craftsman who helped define an entire era of comedy. He proved that sometimes, the best way to be a hero is just to show up, sit down, and have a really good comeback ready.