George Wendt, star of stage and screen, passed away early Tuesday at the age of 76. The big picture: The star of television shows like "Cheers" and "Saturday Night Live" grew up in Beverly and carved out a successful career in Hollywood by playing into his Chicago roots.

Here, in the wake of George Wendt's death, take a walk down memory lane with the stars of NBC's Cheers, then and now. George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the sitcom, died on May 20, 2025 — the 32nd anniversary of the Cheers series finale. He was 76.

George Wendt, best known as Norm Peterson from the classic sitcom Cheers, has died at 76. Wendt was a staple of 90s television and starred in all 275 episodes of the show. His legacy endures through his Emmy-nominated work and lasting influence on comedy,