Who is George Wendt? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

George Robert Wendt III Wiki Biography

George Robert Wendt III was born on 17 October 1948, in Chicago, Illinois USA, of Irish and German descent. George is an actor, perhaps best known for appearing in the television show “Cheers” as the character Norm Peterson. He’s also been seen in films such as “The Little Rascals”, and “Dennis the Menace Strikes Again”. All his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.

How rich is George Wendt? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $45 million, mostly earned through a successful career in acting. Aside from film and television, George has also made a name for himself in various stage productions. He’s been acting since the 1980s, and as he continues his career his wealth will likely increase.

George Wendt Net Worth $45 Million Dollars

Wendt attended Campion High School, and after matriculating attended the University of Notre Dame. During his junior year he was expelled due to failing grades and he would then attend Rockhurst College, from where he eventually graduated with a degree in economics.

After graduating, he went to watch a theatre production by The Second City, which inspired him to join the group. He started there as a sweeper, but eventually got his chance to act on stage and gained some recognition. One of his first films was “My Bodyguard”, in which he played a handyman. A year later he started making guest appearances in shows such as “Taxi” and “Soap”. He also appeared in an episode of “M*A*S*H”, in which he had a pool ball stuck in his mouth for most of the episode. Afterwards, he appeared in “Airplane II: The Sequel” playing a minor role. In 1982, he was cast in the show “Cheers”, and would appear in all 275 episodes from 1982 to 1993, gaining considerable recognition and which increased his net worth significantly. After “Cheers”, he started appearing in “Saturday Night Live” in cameos and even hosting several shows. He would then continue his work in television shows and films such as “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, “Outside Providence” and “Oblomov”. He is also seen in the music video “Black or White” by Michael Jackson. His net worth was increasing steadily.

George tried to start his own show entitled “The George Wendt Show”, a move that was prompted by the success of “Cheers”. The show was short-lived however, as it only ran for one month before being cancelled. Afterwards, he found himself making guest appearances in popular shows including “Columbo”, “Family Guy”, “The Simpsons”, “Frasier” and “Seinfeld”. He also appeared in “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch” for several episodes. After this string of shows, his appearances on television reduced, and he didn’t really start again until 2006, in the show “Late Night With Conan O’Brien”. He also returned to the stage in productions of “Twelve Angry Men”, “Hairspray”, and “Elf the Musical”. Wendt then contributed to commercials for State Farm Insurance. He also continued to do shows, including a comedy with his wife entitled “Never Too Late”.

For his personal life, George has been married to Bernadette Birkett since 1978. They met while Wendt was a part of Second City, and they now have five children, two of whom are his step-children.



Full Name George Wendt
Net Worth $45 Million
Date Of Birth October 17, 1948
Place Of Birth Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Director
Education Campion High School, and after matriculating attended the University of Notre Dame, Rockhurst College
Nationality American
Spouse Bernadette Birkett (m. 1978)
Children Hilary Wendt, Joe Wendt, Daniel Wendt
Parents George Robert Wendt, Loretta M. Wendt
Siblings Paul Wendt, Tom Wendt, Mary Ann Wendt,Kathryn Sudeikis, Marti Doherty, Nancy Wendt Healy
IMDB www.imdb.com/name/nm0001841
Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Movies “The Little Rascals”, “Dennis the Menace Strikes Again”, “My Bodyguard”, “Taxi” , “Oblomov”
TV Shows “Cheers” (1982-1993), “The George Wendt Show” (1995), “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, “Outside Providence”, “Black or White”, “Columbo”, “Family Guy”, “The Simpsons”, “Frasier”, “Seinfeld”, “Never Too Late”
Quote
1 Improvising is best left to those who really love it. Improvising itself is kind of fun, but the apprehension before the improv is not. I don’t think that fast; I can’t write that fast. Some people can look at a bunch of suggestions and can come up with a premise, but that was never my long suit.
Fact
1 Opened in the play, “12 Angry Men” in Dallas, co-starring Richard Thomas. [February 2007]
2 Playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway [March 2008]
3 He is of German (from his paternal grandfather) and Irish descent.
4 Uncle of Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Sudeikis and Lindsay Sudeikis.
5 Children: Hilary Wendt (b. 1985), Joe Wendt (b. 1987) and Daniel Wendt (b. 1990) with Bernadette Birkett.
6 Brother-in-law of Joe Birkett.
7 Is an avid Notre Dame football fan. Always attends the Notre Dame-vs.-USC game when held in Pasadena, California, every two years.
8 In a tribute George wrote for the Second City book, he said that when he joined Second City, it wasn’t directly through the troupe as a performer. He had studied the shows for a while and befriended an employee whom he asked about joining. She told him to show up after a performance one day in the afternoon, which he subsequently did. The stage area was littered with cigarette butts, when the woman handed him a broom and said “Welcome to the theater, kid.”
9 Along with Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman, he is one of only three actors to appear in all 273 episodes of Cheers (1982).
10 Along with John Ratzenberger, Richard Belzer and Paul Fusco, he is one of only four actors to play the same character (Hilary Norman ‘Norm’ Peterson) on six different shows: Cheers (1982), Frasier (1993), Wings (1990), St. Elsewhere (1982), The Tortellis (1987) and The Simpsons (1989). He has appeared in episodes of all six series with John Ratzenberger.
11 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).
12 Wendt’s maternal grandfather was Tom Howard, a photographer for the Washington bureau of P & A Photographs, who took one of the most famous news photos ever: of murderess Ruth Snyder as she was executed at Sing Sing Prison on January 12, 1928. He modified his miniature plate camera with a long shutter release, then smuggled it into the witness room by strapping it onto his left ankle. The photo was on the front page of the next morning’s New York Daily News under the headline: DEAD! The camera is at the Smithsonian Institution.
13 Attended University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana for 2 years.
14 Graduate of Rockhurst College (now known as Rockhurst University) in Kansas City, MO.
15 Played Macaulay Culkin’s father in Michael Jackson’s video ‘Black or White’.

Actor

Title Year Status Character
The Independents 2016/I post-production Eduardo
Wake Up America! 2016 Richard
Childrens Hospital 2016 TV Series Governor Jasper Ruth
Clipped 2015 TV Series Buzzy
Franklin & Bash 2014 TV Series Henry ‘Hank’ Shae
Verdene and Gleneda 2014 TV Series short Uncle Beanie
Kirstie 2014 TV Series Duke
Portlandia 2013 TV Series George Heely
Merry In-Laws 2012 TV Movie Mr. Claus
A Christmas Wedding Date 2012 TV Movie Mr. Destiny
Kickin’ It 2012 TV Series Uncle Blake
The Seven Year Hitch 2012 TV Movie Mr. Henderson
Harry’s Law 2011 TV Series Franklin Chickory
Hot in Cleveland 2011 TV Series Yoder
The Stay-At-Home Dad 2010 TV Series Gerard Gold
Ghost Whisperer 2010 TV Series George the Plumber
Less Than Kind 2010 TV Series Tiny
Cubed 2010 TV Series George Wendt
Santa Buddies 2009 Video Santa Claus
Opposite Day 2009 Corporate Exec #1
Family Guy 2007-2009 TV Series Norm Peterson
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! 2008 TV Movie Santa
Bryan Loves You 2008 Mr. Flynn
Unnatural Causes 2008 Chuck
The Green Green Grass 2007 TV Series Cliff Cooper
Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular 2007 TV Movie Santa Claus
Saturday Morning 2007 Harold
LA Blues 2007 Mickey
Imperfect Union 2007 TV Movie Duke
Guy Walks Into a Bar 2006 TV Movie
Santa Baby 2006 TV Movie Santa Claus
Masters of Horror 2006 TV Series Harold Thompson
Modern Men 2006 TV Series Tug Tug Clarke
The Life Coach 2005 George
Kids in America 2005 Coach Thompson
Edmond 2005 Pawn Shop Owner
As Seen on TV 2005 Short Donald
George Lopez 2004 TV Series Ed
Rock Me, Baby 2004 TV Series Monty
House of Dreams 2004 TV Series Host
Saturday Night Live 1991-2003 TV Series Bob Swerski
King of the Ants 2003/I Duke Wayne
My Dinner with Jimi 2003 Bill Uttley
Frasier 2002 TV Series Norm Peterson
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch 2001-2002 TV Series Mike Shelby
Teddy Bears’ Picnic 2002 General Edison ‘Pete’ Gerberding
Becker 2002 TV Series Frank
Robertson’s Greatest Hits 2001 TV Movie Tom Robertson
Strange Relations 2001 TV Movie Howard
Odessa or Bust 2001 Short The Chef
Prairie Dogs 2001 Short Actor
The Gift of the Magi 2001 Short Shopkeeper
Wild About Harry 2000 Frankie
The Prime Gig 2000 Archie
The Pooch and the Pauper 2000 TV Movie Sheldon Sparks
The List 2000 TV Series Guest Host
Lakeboat 2000 First Mate Collins
Garage: A Rock Saga 2000 Pitching Coach
Madigan Men 2000 TV Series Carl
Outside Providence 1999 Joey
Alice in Wonderland 1999 TV Movie Fred Tweedledee
Rupert’s Land 1998 Ivan Bloat
Alien Avengers II 1998 TV Movie Charlie
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! 1998 Video Policeman (uncredited)
Anarchy TV 1998 Abbey Archer
Alien Avengers 1997 TV Movie Charlie
Spice World 1997 Film Producer
The Lovemaster 1997 Therapist
The Price of Heaven 1997 TV Movie Sam
The Naked Truth 1997 TV Series Les Polanski
Spin City 1996 TV Series Dan Donaldson
Space Truckers 1996 Keller
Bye Bye Birdie 1995 TV Movie Harry MacAfee
Shame II: The Secret 1995 TV Movie Mac
Columbo 1995 TV Series Graham McVeigh
Man of the House 1995 Chet Bronski (Chief Running Horse)
The George Wendt Show 1995 TV Series George Coleman
The Simpsons 1994 TV Series Norm Peterson
The Little Rascals 1994 Lumberyard Clerk
The Larry Sanders Show 1994 TV Series George Wendt
Hostage for a Day 1994 TV Movie Warren Kooey
Dangerous: The Short Films 1993 Video Father (‘Black or White’ video)
The Building 1993 TV Series Cappucino Guy
Cheers 1982-1993 TV Series Norm Peterson
Bob 1993 TV Series George Wendt
Forever Young 1992 Harry Finley
Roc 1992 TV Series Stan Mason
Michael Jackson: Black or White 1991 Video short Father
Tales from the Crypt 1991 TV Series Mr. Crosswhite
Guilty by Suspicion 1991 Bunny Baxter
Wings 1990 TV Series Norm Peterson
Masters of Menace 1990 Dr. Jack Erheart
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1990 TV Series Norm Peterson
Cranium Command 1989 Short Stomach
Day by Day 1989 TV Series Stan
Never Say Die 1988 Mr. Witten
Mickey’s 60th Birthday 1988 TV Movie Norm Peterson
Plain Clothes 1987 Chet Butler
The Tortellis 1987 TV Series Norm Peterson
House 1986 Harold Gorton
The Twilight Zone 1986 TV Series Barney Schlesinger (segment “The World Next Door”)
Gung Ho 1986 Buster
Fletch 1985 Fat Sam
St. Elsewhere 1985 TV Series Norm Peterson
The Romance of Betty Boop 1985 TV Short Johnny Throat / Punchie (voice, as George R. Wendt)
The Ratings Game 1984 TV Movie Mr. Sweeney
No Small Affair 1984 Jake
Garfield in the Rough 1984 TV Short Ranger #2 (voice)
Thief of Hearts 1984 Marty Morrison
Dreamscape 1984 Charlie Prince
Ray Parker Jr.: Ghostbusters 1984 Video short Cameo appearance (uncredited)
Journey’s End 1983 TV Movie
Garfield on the Town 1983 TV Short R
Super Bowl XVII Pre-Game Show 1983 TV Movie Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Likely Stories, Vol. 4 1983 TV Movie
Airplane II: The Sequel 1982 Ticket Agent (uncredited)
Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again 1982 Injured Man
M*A*S*H 1982 TV Series Pvt. La Roche
Making the Grade 1982 TV Series Gus Bertoia
Alice 1982 TV Series Monty
Taxi 1981 TV Series The Exterminator
Soap 1981 TV Series Counterman
Hart to Hart 1981 TV Series Sgt. Tate
Avery Schreiber Live from the Second City 1980 TV Movie
Somewhere in Time 1980 Student
My Bodyguard 1980 Engineer
Bronco Billy 1980 Bartender (uncredited)
A Wedding 1978 Caterer (uncredited)

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
Bye Bye Birdie 1995 TV Movie performer: “Hymn for a Sunday Evening Ed Sullivan”, “Kids”
Cheers TV Series 1 episode, 1986 performer – 10 episodes, 1988 – 1993

Director

Title Year Status Character
Cheers 1988 TV Series 1 episode

Producer

Title Year Status Character
King of the Ants 2003/I co-producer

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making ’12 Angry Men’ 2008 Video documentary short special thanks
Strictly Top-Shelf: The Guys Behind the Bar 2004 Video documentary short special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Last Comic Standing 2008 TV Series Himself – Celebrity Talent Scout
Late Night with Conan O’Brien 1993-2008 TV Series Himself
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making ’12 Angry Men’ 2008 Video documentary short Himself – Juror #1, 2006-2007 Touring Production
Dancing with the Stars 2007 TV Series Himself
Number 7 2007 Video short Himself
The Ultimate Sitcom 2006 TV Movie documentary Himself
2005 Radio Music Awards 2005 TV Special Himself
Lingo 2005 TV Series Himself
Stephen’s Life 2005 TV Movie Himself
Situation: Comedy 2005 TV Series Himself
America Speaks Out 2004 Documentary Himself
Balderdash 2004 TV Series Himself
Whose Curse Is Worse?: Red Sox and Cubs on Trial 2004 TV Movie documentary Himself
Nicholas Colasanto: His Final Season 2004 Video short Himself
King of the Ants: Behind the Scenes 2004 Video documentary short Himself
The Great American Celebrity Spelling Bee 2004 TV Mini-Series Himself – Contestant
The Wayne Brady Show 2004 TV Series Himself
Cliff’s Notes: The Wisdom of Cliff Clavin 2004 Video short Himself
Strictly Top-Shelf: The Guys Behind the Bar 2004 Video documentary short Himself
Mayor of the Sunset Strip 2003 Documentary Himself
TV Guide’s 50 Best Shows of All Time: A 50th Anniversary Celebration 2002 TV Special Himself
NBC 75th Anniversary Special 2002 TV Special Himself
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment 2002 TV Series Himself
Primetime Glick 2001 TV Series Himself
Weakest Link 2001 TV Series Himself
TV Funhouse 2001 TV Series Himself
E! True Hollywood Story 2000 TV Series documentary Himself
The Rosie O’Donnell Show 2000 TV Series Himself
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey 1999 TV Special Himself
TFI Friday 1999 TV Series Himself
The ‘Frasier’ Story 1999 TV Special documentary Himself
Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Live at Aspen 1998 TV Special Himself – Audience (uncredited)
The Making of ‘Space Truckers’ 1998 Video documentary short Himself – ‘Keller’
Whose Line Is It Anyway? 1997 TV Series Himself
Good Company 1996 TV Series Himself
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards 1996 TV Special Himself
Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits – HIStory 1995 Video documentary Father (segment “Black or White”)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1993-1995 TV Series Himself
Late Show with David Letterman 1995 TV Series Himself
The Martin Short Show 1994 TV Series Himself
The 19th Annual People’s Choice Awards 1993 TV Special Himself – Accepting Special Award for Cheers
Birds of a Feather 1993 TV Series Himself
The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1993 TV Special Himself – Presenter
Cheers: Last Call! 1993 TV Short Himself / Norm Peterson
Late Night with David Letterman 1985-1993 TV Series Himself
Comic Relief V 1992 TV Special Himself
The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1992 TV Special Himself – Co-Presenter: Outstanding Performance in Variety or Music Program
Seinfeld 1992 TV Series Himself
Saturday Night Live 1986-1991 TV Series Himself / Himself – Host / Himself – The Host / …
A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan 1991 TV Movie Himself
The 16th Annual People’s Choice Awards 1990 TV Special Himself – Presenter
Cheers 1990 TV Series Himself / Norm Peterson
The Earth Day Special 1990 TV Special Norm Peterson
Wogan 1990 TV Series Himself
The 41st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1989 TV Special Himself – Nominee: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The Jim Henson Hour 1989 TV Series Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show 1989 TV Series Himself
The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1988 TV Special Himself – Nominee: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1987 TV Special Himself – Nominee
The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1986 TV Special Himself – Nominee: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Comic Relief 1986/I TV Special Larry the Interviewer
The Making of ‘House’ 1986 Video documentary short Himself
The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1985 TV Special Himself – Nominee: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards 1984 TV Special Himself – Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The 9th Annual People’s Choice Awards 1983 TV Special Himself – Accepting Award for Favourite New Television Comedy Program
Bill Murray Live from the Second City 1980 TV Special documentary Himself
’85: The Greatest Team in Pro Football History 2016 Himself
Must See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows 2016 TV Special Himself
Entertainment Tonight 2016 TV Series Himself
Extra 2016 TV Series Himself
Comedy Bang! Bang! 2015 TV Series Himself
Top Chef 2014 TV Series Himself – Guest Judge / Actor, Cheers
Thank You Very Much with Host Jack Antonoff 2014 TV Movie Himself
Celebrity Ghost Stories 2013 TV Series documentary Himself
The Broadway.com Show 2013 TV Series Himself
What’s in a Name? 2011 TV Series documentary Himself – Beer Connoisseur
Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements 2011 Documentary Himself
Gylne tider 2010 TV Series documentary Himself
Mike & Mike 2009 TV Series Himself – Guest
The 62nd Annual Tony Awards 2008 TV Special Himself (taped)

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Entertainment Tonight 2016 TV Series Himself
Extra 2016 TV Series Himself
SNL’s NFL Saturday 2015 TV Movie Bob Swerski
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving Special 2014 TV Special Bob Swerski
Peter Andre’s 90 Party Hits of the 90s 2014 TV Movie Himself
The O’Reilly Factor 2008-2014 TV Series Norm Peterson / Norm Peterson in ‘Cheers’
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving 2013 TV Special Bob Swerski (uncredited)
The Women of SNL 2010 TV Movie Dominick
Biography 2009 TV Series documentary Norm Peterson on ‘Cheers’
Top of the Pops 2 2009 TV Series Himself – Father – Black or White Video
Saturday Night Live in the ’80s: Lost & Found 2005 TV Special documentary Himself
101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments 2004 TV Movie Himself
Carla’s Whipping Boy 2004 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Shrink-Warped: Introducing Frasier Crane 2004 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Virtual Vera 2004 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Carla the Comeback Queen: Insults for Every Occasion 2004 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Di Another Day: Diane Chambers from A-Z 2004 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Michael Jackson: Number Ones 2003 Video documentary The Father (segment “Black or White”)
Coach Ernie Pantusso’s Rules of the Game 2003 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
I’ll Drink to That: Stormin’ Norm-isms 2003 Video short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Setting the Bar: A Conversation with Ted Danson 2003 Video documentary short Norm Peterson (uncredited)
Second to None 2001/I TV Movie documentary Himself
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley 1998 TV Special documentary Bob Swersky (uncredited)
Whose Line Is It Anyway? 1997 TV Series Himself
Toonces, the Cat Who Could Drive a Car 1992 TV Movie
The Dick Cavett Show 1986 TV Series Moderator on Dr. Ruth Sketch from COMEDY RELIEF

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
1999 Genie Genie Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Rupert’s Land (1998)
1990 Q Award Viewers for Quality Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Cheers (1982)
1989 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Cheers (1982)
1988 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Cheers (1982)
1987 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Cheers (1982)
1986 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Cheers (1982)
1985 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Cheers (1982)
1984 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Cheers (1982)

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