George Wendt was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He attended a strict Jesuit prep school and then dropped out of Notre Dame University after a few uneventful years. He worked with the Windy City's famed Second City comedy troupe from 1974-1980. He is best known for playing Norm Peterson on the hit televison series, Cheers. He is married to actress Bernadette Birkett, who provided the rare offscreen voice of Norm's unseen wife Vera. The couple have two sons and a daughter. They met while working at the Second City in Chicago.


Played Macaulay Culkin's father in Michael Jackson's video 'Black or White'. Attended University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana for 2 years. Has played Norm Peterson on seven different shows: "Cheers" (1982), "St. Elsewhere" (1982), "The Tortellis" (1987), "The Simpsons" (1989), "Wings" (1990), "Frasier" (1993), and "Family Guy" (1999). Along with Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman, he is one of only three actors to appear in all 273 episodes of "Cheers" (1982). Is an avid Notre Dame football fan. Always attends the notorious Notre Dame vs. USC game when held in Pasadena, California, every two years. Children: Hilary Wendt (b. 1985), Joe Wendt (b. 1987) and Daniel Wendt (b. 1990) with Bernadette Birkett.