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• Actor George Wendt joined The Second City comedy troupe after graduating from Kansas City's Rockhurst College in the 1970s. In 1982, he was cast as Norm Peterson on the NBC sitcom Cheers, the role he is predominantly remembered for.

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: October 17, 1948
  2. Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
  3. Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmy Awards
  4. Wife: Bernadette Birkett
  5. Appeared in Michael Jackson's video "Black or White"
  6. Portrayed Norm Peterson on seven different shows
  7. Appeared in all 273 episodes of Cheers

• As Norm on Cheers

  Norm Peterson, along with postman Cliff Clavin, were the two steadiest customers at Cheers. Peterson had a usual spot at the back corner of the bar. When he entered the bar, the employees and patrons would shout his name and either Coach or Woody would ask how life was treating him. Norm would typically respond with a witty quip about his less-than-perfect existence.

• On Saturday Night Live

  Though Wendt was never a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live, he made several guest appearances in the 1990s as Bob Swerski, host of the show Superfans. The show parodies the appearance and actions of Chicago sports fans, cheering on "Da Bears" or "Da Bulls," and debating if former Bears coach Mike Ditka could defeat a hurricane.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Cheers | Ted Danson | SCTV | Shelley Long | Kirstie Alley | John Ratzenberger | Woody Harrelson | Kelsey Grammer | The Simpsons | Twelve Angry Men | Hairspray

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