Cheers actor George Wendt—forever known as Norm from the bar—has had his cause of death officially confirmed by authorities.
The 76-year-old sitcom star passed away in May, and now TMZ has obtained his death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
George Wendt became a TV icon playing Norm Peterson, the ever-present barfly with the one-liners and cold pint in hand on NBC’s hit series Cheers.
The show ran for 11 seasons between 1982 and 1993 and remains one of the most celebrated sitcoms in TV history.
According to the document, George died from cardiac arrest, with several chronic conditions listed as contributing factors. These included congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.
He also had end-stage renal disease—a form of kidney failure—and hyperlipidemia, which refers to high levels of fat in the blood.
Wendt once reflected on his Cheers legacy, saying via The Mirror: “I was lucky to be part of something that became such a beloved part of people’s lives.”
It almost didn’t happen—Cheers nearly got axed after its first season due to poor ratings. But it turned things around in a massive way, becoming a top 10 staple for most of its run and peaking as the No.1 most-watched program during its ninth season.
The show earned 117 Emmy nominations and won 28 awards, including four for Outstanding Comedy Series.
George was nominated for six Emmys in a row for his performance and appeared in every episode from start to finish. His character’s signature entrance and shout of “Norm!” is one of TV’s most recognizable moments.
Beyond the bar stool
While Cheers was his claim to fame, Wendt kept busy with plenty of other roles. He guest-starred in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Columbo, and performed on Saturday Night Live in the recurring “Bill Swerski’s Superfans” sketch, which poked fun at Chicago sports fans.
Off-screen, George had a long-lasting marriage to actress Bernadette Birkett—who voiced his never-seen TV wife Vera. The couple tied the knot in 1978 and raised three children together: one daughter and two sons.