George Wendt was popularly identified as Norm Peterson on the long-running comedy TV show Cheers.  His entrance into the bar, which typically stars with a welcome by the bar crowd followed by a joke from Norm, became a running gag throughout the series.  Initially an accountant, he also became a housepainter, a beer taster and an accomplished interior decorator.  Although he was unemployed for quite some time, he was, ironically, still considered as the bar's best customer.  At present, the 58-year-old actor actively remains in the limelight with his numerous upcoming movies.

Next year, the former Cheers actor will be starring in Chad Chucker, a comedy about two offbeat brothers who are forced to commit hilarious acts of crime to save their family's farm.  Also starring are Tim Kazurinsky and Scott Gregory.

In addition to the comedy, he will also tap into a horror flick called House of Re-Animator, playing the Vice President of the United States.  The story centers on Herbert West, a re-animator who is brought in the White House to bring a corpse back to life. Jeffrey Combs (The 4400) plays Herbert West while William H. Macy (ER) stars as the President of the United States.

Before his 2008 projects, fans can catch George Wendt in several movies, which have already finished filming and are pending for release within the year.  These include the fantasy-romance Saturday Morning, the comedy LA Blues and the horror thriller Bryan Loves You.

After Cheers, George Wendt reprised his role as Norm Peterson on St. Elsewhere, The Tortellis, Wings, The Simpsons and Frasier.  Most recently, he provided the voice of his iconic TV character on Family Guy in the 2007 episode “Road to Rupert.”

Over the years, George Wendt continued to acquire loads of television and film projects.  Some of his memorable works include Madigan Men as Carl, Mike Shelby on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Saturday Night Live as Bob Swerski.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of MSN)