George Wendt’s cause of death has been revealed.
Wendt died as a result of cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, obtained by TMZ on Thursday, June 5.
The certificate listed congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension as underlying causes of death for the Cheers alum. End-stage renal disease (also known as kidney failure) and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) also contributed to Wendt’s passing.
Wendt died in his sleep last month at age 76. He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett, whom he wed in 1978, and their three children: Joe, Hilary, and Daniel.
Jason Sudeikis shared some of his fondest memories of his real-life uncle George Wendt in an interview that resurfaced following the Cheers actor’s death at age 76 on Tuesday, May 20. A spokesperson for Wendt’s family confirmed to Us Weekly on Tuesday that the six-time Emmy Award nominee “died peacefully in his sleep” while surrounded […]
“Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy Cheers, has passed away,” a rep for his family told Us Weekly in a statement in May. “George’s family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home. 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.”
Wendt was also the uncle of actor Jason Sudeikis. The Ted Lasso star paid tribute to Wendt during an interview with Kansas City’s KSHB 41 on Friday, May 31.
“With regard to my Uncle George, I mean, you know, there’s that old saying of ‘Don’t meet your heroes,’ and usually because they let you down is the back-half of that statement, but he’s not one of those people,” Sudeikis said at the time. “He’s as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films and he … was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that blazed the trail, coming from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you can actually have if you really care about it.”
Kelsey Grammar paid tribute to his late Cheers costar George Wendt following Wendt’s death at age 76 on Tuesday, May 20. “George was a lovely guy,” Grammar, 70, said during an appearance on Sirius XM Radio’s Gayle King in the House on Wednesday, May 21. Grammar admitted to host Gayle King that Wendt’s passing was […]
While Wendt had an impressive acting career he was best known for playing fan-favorite Norm on Cheers. He starred on the sitcom alongside Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, the late Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long and Bebe Neuwirth, During the show’s 11-season run, Wendt was nominated for six Emmys. Wendt’s death fell on the same day as the 32nd anniversary of Cheers’ series finale.
Following the news of Wendt’s death, several of his former costars paid tribute to their late colleague. Danson, who played the show’s beloved bartender Sam Malone, told Us in a statement that he is “devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us.”
“I am sending all my love to [his wife] Bernadette and the children,” the statement read. “It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.”