'Cheers' star George Wendt's cause of death revealed two weeks after he died in his sleep at 76

'Cheers' star George Wendt's cause of death revealed two weeks after he died in his sleep at 76
George Wendt’s cause of death was revealed in a certificate issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Rick Kern/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The cause of George Wendt’s death has been revealed two weeks after he died at the age of 76 on May 20.

The ‘Cheers’ star died due to cardiac arrest, People reported, citing a death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

George Wendt attends the TBS / TNT Upfront 2014 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2014 in New York City. 24674_002_0135.JPG (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner)
George Wendt attends the TBS / TNT Upfront 2014 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2014, in New York City (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner)

The certificate also stated that end-stage renal disease, also called kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia contributed to the actor’s death.

As per the Cleveland Clinic, “Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is an excess of lipids or fats in your blood. This can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke because blood can’t flow through your arteries easily.”

George Wendt’s publicist called him ‘a doting family man’

This came after, on May 20, George Wendt’s publicist, Melissa Nathan, shared a statement with People, which said, “Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy Cheers, has passed away.”

“George’s family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home,” it added.

George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attend Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party at Mother Wolf on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic)
George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attend Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy Party at Mother Wolf on January 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California (Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic)

The statement also mentioned that “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever,” before asserting, “The family has requested privacy during this time.”

Ted Danson said he was 'devastated' by 'Cheers' co-star George Wendt's death

George Wendt became a household name after starring as Norm Peterson on NBC’s ‘Cheers’, which ran from 1982 to 1993.


HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 10: Actor Ted Danson attends the Los Angeles Premiere of
Ted Danson attends the Los Angeles Premiere of 'A Man On The Inside' at the TUDUM Theater on November 10, 2024, in Hollywood, California (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

The Emmy-nominated actor’s co-star Ted Danson said in a statement, “I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us. I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.”

Also, Rhea Perlman had shared, “George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him. 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. What a guy! I’ll miss him more than words can say."

George Wendt performs onstage during 2024 Big Slick Celebrity Weekend on June 01, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) Please check if this is the same person
George Wendt performs onstage during the 2024 Big Slick Celebrity Weekend on June 1, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri (Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

John Ratzenberger 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.”

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