George Wendt: 'Cheers' stars Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger and Rhea Perlman pay tribute
In the wake of George Wendt's death, his "Cheers" co-stars are paying tribute to their colleague, who played bar regular Norm for all 11 seasons of the show.
"I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend George Wendt. For eleven years on 'Cheers,' we shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television's most beloved friendships," John Ratzenberger, who played mailman and fellow barfly Cliff, said in a statement shared with Paste BN.
"George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift," he added. "He was a true craftsman — humble, hilarious, and full of heart. What you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved.
"I'll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most. My thoughts are with his wife Bernadette, their children, and everyone who loved him."
Wendt's publicist confirmed May 20 that the 76-year-old actor had died "peacefully in his sleep at home" early in the morning.
Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer tribute: 'A long time to get used to this'
Ted Danson, aka bar proprietor Sam Malone, said in a statement to Paste BN that he is "devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us."
"I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children," Danson continued. "It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie."
Kelsey Grammer, also known as Dr. Frasier Crane, issued a brief statement on Wendt's passing.
"I believe mourning is a private matter. But I liked George a lot. He was beloved by millions," Grammer said.
Rhea Perlman: 'I’ll miss him more than words can say'
Rhea Perlman shared fond memories of her on-set dynamic with Wendt while portraying waitress Carla Tortelli.
"George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him," she said in a statement to Paste BN. "As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn’t hurt."
She added, "What a guy! I’ll miss him more than words can say.”