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George Wendt

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5 out of 5

Actor Best Known for his Role as Norm Peterson on "Cheers"

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George Wendt Biography

George Wendt is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Norm Peterson on the television sitcom "Cheers" (1982–93), which has earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also appeared in films Fletch, Gung Ho, Dreamscape, House, Forever Young, Hostage for a Day, Man of the House, and Lakeboat.

Wendt was born in the Beverly neighborhood on the southwestern side of Chicago, Illinois, the son of Loretta Mary (née Howard) and George Robert Wendt, an officer in the Navy and a realtor. He attended Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He was expelled from the University of Notre Dame after he received a 0.00 GPA the first semester of his junior year. He later attended the Jesuit Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated with a B.A. in economics.

Wendt is an uncle of actor and former "SNL" writer and cast member Jason Sudeikis, his sister's son. Wendt is a 1975 alumnus of The Second City, which he discovered shortly after college. A viewing had inspired him to join and on his first day of employment, he showed up promptly at 11:30 am as he was instructed. The woman working there handed him a broom and said "Welcome to the theater, kid"; thus, his first job in show business was sweeping the floors. Second City was also where he met his future wife, Bernadette Birkett, who played Cliff's Halloween date in the third season of "Cheers" and later in the series played the voice of Norm's never-seen wife, Vera. From 1982 to 1993, Wendt appeared as Norm Peterson in all 275 episodes of "Cheers." For his work on "Cheers," Wendt earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

His first appearance on "Saturday Night Live" was in a season 11 (1985–1986) episode where he shared hosting duties with director Francis Ford Coppola. In 1988 he played the part of "Witten" in the New Zealand-made film, Never Say Die. In the early 1990s, Wendt made cameo appearances on several episodes of "SNL" as Bob Swerski, one of the Chicago Superfans (along with cast members Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Robert Smigel, and one-time host, Joe Mantegna). Having grown up as a lifelong fan of his hometown Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears, Wendt's Bob Swerski character is said to be a "spot-on" characterization of Chicago's south-side citizens.

In 1989, Wendt appeared as the eponymous protagonist in a BBC TV dramatization of Ivan Goncharov's novel "Oblomov." He has also appeared twice on the original British edition of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" In 1991, Wendt played the father in Michael Jackson's music video "Black or White". He had roles opposite Robert De Niro in 1991's Guilty by Suspicion and with Mel Gibson in 1992's Forever Young.

Wendt appeared in a production of Hairspray, reprising his role as Edna Turnblad, from September 8 to October 9, 2010, at the Charlottetown Festival in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Wendt played Santa in Elf the Musical on Broadway. The show opened November 14, 2010 and ran through January 2, 2011. Wendt starred in a production of Hairspray as Edna Turnblad at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from August 2, 2011 to August 21, 2011. Wendt also guest-starred in the TV series "Hot In Cleveland" as Yoder, based on his character Norm in "Cheers." His first of two scenes took place in an Amish bar, where everyone in the bar yelled "Yoder!," referencing what the cast of Cheers would yell whenever he walked in. George Wendt continues to stay busy working in film, Television, and theater. He also has a published book “Drinking with George: A barstool professional’s guide to beer.”

Videos
Books
Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer

Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer

News
FAQs
  • How do I book George Wendt to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Wendt for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Wendt, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Wendt or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for George Wendt

    Speaking fees for George Wendt, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book George Wendt are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Wendt, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does George Wendt speak about?

    George Wendt is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Classic TV Stars, Featured Celebrities, Television Personalities.
  • Where does George Wendt travel from?

    George Wendt generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is George Wendt’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like George Wendt for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Wendt for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Wendt or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

George Wendt

Speaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker Rating
5 out of 5

Actor Best Known for his Role as Norm Peterson on "Cheers"

Travels From:
Speaking Fee:

George Wendt Biography

George Wendt is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Norm Peterson on the television sitcom "Cheers" (1982–93), which has earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also appeared in films Fletch, Gung Ho, Dreamscape, House, Forever Young, Hostage for a Day, Man of the House, and Lakeboat.

Wendt was born in the Beverly neighborhood on the southwestern side of Chicago, Illinois, the son of Loretta Mary (née Howard) and George Robert Wendt, an officer in the Navy and a realtor. He attended Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He was expelled from the University of Notre Dame after he received a 0.00 GPA the first semester of his junior year. He later attended the Jesuit Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated with a B.A. in economics.

Wendt is an uncle of actor and former "SNL" writer and cast member Jason Sudeikis, his sister's son. Wendt is a 1975 alumnus of The Second City, which he discovered shortly after college. A viewing had inspired him to join and on his first day of employment, he showed up promptly at 11:30 am as he was instructed. The woman working there handed him a broom and said "Welcome to the theater, kid"; thus, his first job in show business was sweeping the floors. Second City was also where he met his future wife, Bernadette Birkett, who played Cliff's Halloween date in the third season of "Cheers" and later in the series played the voice of Norm's never-seen wife, Vera. From 1982 to 1993, Wendt appeared as Norm Peterson in all 275 episodes of "Cheers." For his work on "Cheers," Wendt earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

His first appearance on "Saturday Night Live" was in a season 11 (1985–1986) episode where he shared hosting duties with director Francis Ford Coppola. In 1988 he played the part of "Witten" in the New Zealand-made film, Never Say Die. In the early 1990s, Wendt made cameo appearances on several episodes of "SNL" as Bob Swerski, one of the Chicago Superfans (along with cast members Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Robert Smigel, and one-time host, Joe Mantegna). Having grown up as a lifelong fan of his hometown Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears, Wendt's Bob Swerski character is said to be a "spot-on" characterization of Chicago's south-side citizens.

In 1989, Wendt appeared as the eponymous protagonist in a BBC TV dramatization of Ivan Goncharov's novel "Oblomov." He has also appeared twice on the original British edition of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" In 1991, Wendt played the father in Michael Jackson's music video "Black or White". He had roles opposite Robert De Niro in 1991's Guilty by Suspicion and with Mel Gibson in 1992's Forever Young.

Wendt appeared in a production of Hairspray, reprising his role as Edna Turnblad, from September 8 to October 9, 2010, at the Charlottetown Festival in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Wendt played Santa in Elf the Musical on Broadway. The show opened November 14, 2010 and ran through January 2, 2011. Wendt starred in a production of Hairspray as Edna Turnblad at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from August 2, 2011 to August 21, 2011. Wendt also guest-starred in the TV series "Hot In Cleveland" as Yoder, based on his character Norm in "Cheers." His first of two scenes took place in an Amish bar, where everyone in the bar yelled "Yoder!," referencing what the cast of Cheers would yell whenever he walked in. George Wendt continues to stay busy working in film, Television, and theater. He also has a published book “Drinking with George: A barstool professional’s guide to beer.”

George Wendt Videos

  • Pick A Choice: Cheers' George Wendt identifies movies from their ...
  • George Wendt: Chicago Style Improv - YouTube
  • George Wendt Goes to Hot Doug's in Chicago! - YouTube

George Wendt Books

FAQs on booking George Wendt

  • How do I book George Wendt to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Wendt for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Wendt, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Wendt or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for George Wendt

    Speaking fees for George Wendt, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book George Wendt are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Wendt, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does George Wendt speak about?

    George Wendt is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Classic TV Stars, Featured Celebrities, Television Personalities.
  • Where does George Wendt travel from?

    George Wendt generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is George Wendt’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like George Wendt for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Wendt for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Wendt or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

George Wendt is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book George Wendt for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. George Wendt generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ryan Pinkston, Linda Evans, Michael Ironside, Jerry Mathers and Mario Lopez. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling George Wendt for an upcoming live or virtual event.

George Wendt Speaker Videos

  • Pick A Choice: Cheers' George Wendt identifies movies from their ...
    George Wendt: Chicago Style Improv - YouTube
  • George Wendt Goes to Hot Doug's in Chicago! - YouTube
    GEORGE WENDT on the Zen of Improv - YouTube

George Wendt News

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Speakers Similar to George Wendt

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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