The official cause of death for beloved Cheers actor George Wendt has been determined. According to his death certificate, obtained by TMZ, the actor passed away due to cardiac arrest.

The Los Angeles County Department of public Health’s death certificate cites several underlying conditions contributing to the cardiac arrest, including congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. Additional conditions listed were end-stage renal disease (kidney failure) and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).

A family representative confirmed that George Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at home on may 20. He was 76 years old.

George Wendt became a household name for his role as Norm Peterson on Cheers, appearing in every episode of the show’s celebrated run from 1982 to 1993. His character,Norm,was a fan favourite,known for his iconic entrance,which was always greeted by the bar’s patrons shouting his name,”Norm!” This was usually followed by a setup line from a co-star and a witty retort from Norm.

His performance as Norm Peterson earned George Wendt six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. though, he never won the award.

George Wendt’s Career Beyond Cheers

Before his iconic role on cheers, george Wendt made memorable appearances on other popular television shows, including M*A*S*H, Taxi, Soap, and Alice.

“Norm!”

George Wendt also showcased his talents on Broadway, appearing in productions such as Art (1998) as Yvan, Hairspray (2002) as Edna Turnblad, Elf (2010) as Santa, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (2013) as Joe Bell.

In 2024, George Wendt collaborated with Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Jon Lovitz, and Kevin Nealon in A History of the World in Six Glasses for Fox Nation. The show, created by former Cheers executive producer Rob Long, explored the history of various beverages, including beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and soda, and their impact on global culture.