George Wendt's Heartbreaking Passing: The Real Reason Behind the "Cheers" Star's Demise
TV icon's life comes to an end - Television icon met an untimely demise.
On May 20th, the television world mourned the loss of George Wendt, the legendary actor known for his iconic role as Norm in "Cheers." Wendt, aged 76, passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to a statement from his family. The cause of death has now been unveiled. As reported by "TMZ," the death certificate reveals that Wendt succumbed to a heart attack.
What Really Killed George Wendt?
Delving deeper, the death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reveals additional information. Wendt's health struggles were due to congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. His cholesterol levels were sky-high, and his kidneys were failing. The death certificate indicates that he was cremated on May 28th.
For over a decade, Wendt starred in "Cheers," appearing in every episode. His performances earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, from 1984 to 1989. He also appeared in other productions such as "The Tortellis" and "Frasier." Despite a brief stint on his own show, "The George Wendt Show" (which was unfortunately canceled after a few episodes in 1995), Wendt will forever be remembered as the lovable Norm Peterson.
A Grieving Tribe Mourns
The news of Wendt's passing has left a void in the hearts of his former colleagues and friends. The legendary Ted Danson, Wendt's "Cheers" co-star, offered his condolences, saying, "I'm devastated to hear that Georgie is gone. I send all my love to Bernadette and the kids. It's going to take a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie" [The Hollywood Reporter].
John Ratzenberger, who portrayed Cliff, paid an emotional tribute to Wendt: "For eleven years on 'Cheers', we shared a stage, many laughs, and a front-row seat for one of television’s most beloved friendships. George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance - the kind that makes it look effortless. That was his gift" [The Hollywood Reporter].
- Death
- Heart Attack
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Hypertension
- High Cholesterol
- Kidney Failure
- TMZ
- Los Angeles
[1] https://www.today.com/health/george-wendt-cheers-dead-76-cause-death-t196649[2] https://people.com/tv/george-wendt-dead-at-76-today-show-cheers/[3] https://www.etonline.com/george-wendt-dead-at-76-cause-of-death-revealed-140201[4] https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/george-wendt-dead-cause-death-030000220.html
The death certificate from Los Angeles reveals George Wendt's cause of death was a heart attack, stemming from congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension, which also led to kidney failure. This unfortunate news spread across entertainment outlets like TMZ.
The passing of George Wendt has sent waves of sorrow through the celebrity world as his former colleagues like Ted Danson and John Ratzenberger mourn his loss, reminiscing on their shared history from their successful run on the sitcom "Cheers."
