Cheers star's cause of death exposed after sad sudden death
Cheers legend George Wendt's cause of death has been revealed two weeks after the actor died suddenly in his sleep at the age of 76. According to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health death certificate, Wendt died of a cardiac arrest on May 20.
TMZ obtained the certificate, which also lists the underlying health conditions he had including congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. End-stage renal disease, kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia (a condition involving high levels of fat in the blood) also could have contributed to his death. The certificate states that Wendt was pronounced dead at 10am on May 20, and he was cremated on May 28.
Wendt was a fixture on American television for over a decade. He is best known for his role as Norm Peterson on NBC's Cheers, where he earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his portrayal of the cheerful barfly.
The actor appeared in every episode of the long-running sitcom from 1982 to its finale in 1993 with his signature opening, "Afternoon everyone!"
In a 2021 interview with Chicago Magazine, Wendt said: "Norm is just me with better writing. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of actors who could have delivered on the absolute gems that I was handed on a silver platter every Wednesday morning."
Wendt's passing came just six months after he was seen looking frail while being wheeled out of a dialysis clinic in California on the exact anniversary of the Cheers finale.
After the news of his death broke, he was flooded with tributes by fans and former co-stars. Ted Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone on the series, told People magazine: "I'm devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us. I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie."
Wendt's family also released a public message, which read: "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time."
Cheers became a cultural phenomenon over its 11 season run, and won 28 Emmy Awards after 117 nominations. Although the first season's ratings were poor, the show went on to become a hit and is now one of the most acclaimed sitcoms in TV history.
Wendt also had a diverse acting career beyond Cheers, with roles in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Columbo, Wings, and Saturday Night Live's Bill Swerski's Superfans sketches.
He found his way into acting after being expelled from the University of Notre Dame because of his poor grades and getting a job sweeping theatre floors.
The sitcom star married Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm's off-screen wife Vera on Cheers , in 1978 and the pair went on to have three children together.
For the most part Wendt stayed out of the spotlight in his later years, but made a touching final appearance at the Emmy Awards with his Cheers castmates in January 2024.
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