Actor and comedian George Wendt was born on October 17, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. He initially studied at the University of Notre Dame, but was kicked out after failing all the subjects he took in a semester. He eventually graduated with a degree in economics at the Rockhurst College in Kansas City.
Wendt was part of the Chicago-based comedy troupe The Second City. After being inspired to join after one viewing, he was initially assigned to sweep cigarette butts off the theater floor. Eventually, he progressed to become one of the performers, and his experiences there led to screen roles in the 1980s. He began by playing bit roles in films such as Somewhere In Time, as well as guest roles in series such as Taxi, Soap and M*A*S*H.
However, Wendt is best known for his role in the successful sitcom Cheers. He played Norm Peterson, a regular customer at Cheers, who began as an accountant who eventually loses his job and becomes a housepainter. He played the character throughout Cheers’ eleven-year run, and also reprised his character in its spin-offs The Tortellis and Frasier, other series Wings and St. Elsewhere, and an episode of The Simpsons.
Wendt is also known for his numerous appearances in Saturday Night Live. After his first appearance in 1985 as a guest co-host (with Francis Ford Coppola), he later made several cameo appearances in some sketches, notably as Bob Swerski, one of the Chicago Superfans. His SNL connection continues to date, as he is the uncle of current cast member Jason Sudeikis.
Apart from these, Wendt also had a recurring role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and appeared in other programs such as Modern Men, House of Dreams, Madigan Men and Becker. He has also returned to the stage, recently playing the role of Edna Turnblad in the Broadway revival of the musical Hairspray.