Two weeks after the death of Cheers alum George Wendt, the actor’s cause of death has been revealed.
According to a death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which was obtained by People, Wendt died from cardiac arrest. Underlying cause included congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension, per the outlet.
A rep for Wendt confirmed his death on May 20 at the age of 76 in a statement to Rolling Stone. While an exact cause of death was not given at the time, the rep said Wendt “died peacefully in his sleep while at home.”
Throughout his career, Wendt garnered hundreds of credits in films, TV shows, and even a few music videos. The comedian played standout cameos on Saturday Night Live during the Nineties, portraying Bob Swerski, a member of the group of Chicago sports superfans that also included Chris Farley, Mike Myers, and Robert Smigel. Yet his most well known performance was as Norm Peterson on the beloved sitcom Cheers, a role for which he received six straight Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series between 1984 and 1989.
Kelsey Grammer paid tribute to his former Cheers co-star following news of his death and called into Gayle King’s SiriusXM show to remember Wendt. “For 11 years, America waited for him to walk into a bar every Thursday night and say something funny. And they just knew he wouldn’t disappoint,” Grammer said. “He was extraordinary. He’d sort of just lope across that floor and sit down at that stool and order that beer and say something that set the world on fire.”
From Rolling Stone US
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