The entertainment industry lost one of its most beloved actors when Cheers star George Wendt — “NORM!” — passed away at age 76 earlier this week. Sadly, the fan-favorite character actor was actually the second Cheers star to die this month.
News broke on Wednesday, May 21, that actor Michael Alaimo died on May 2 at age 86. The actor — who appeared in such iconic ’90s films as Space Jam, The Sandlot, Air Bud and more — portrayed Vinnie Claussen on the 1985 Cheers episode “2 Good 2 Be 4 Real.”
The Season 4 episode features Alaimo’s character attempting to woo Rhea Perlman‘s no-nonsense Carla Tortelli at the bar after sending her a letter in the mail. The ruse of the episode, however, is that the rest of the Cheers bartenders and bar patrons, feeling sorry for Carla’s single status, create a fictional suitor for the blunt barmaid, causing her to turn down actual potential love interests like Vinnie.
Alaimo’s daughter, Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, confirmed her father’s death in a statement to Variety on Wednesday. While she did not cite a cause of death for the actor, she told the outlet that her dad “passed away peacefully.”
The statement of Alaimo’s death echoes that of Wendt’s family’s own announcement of his passing. Wendt — who starred in every episode of Cheers and earned six Emmy nominations for his portrayal of beloved barfly Norm Peterson — died peacefully in his sleep at home on Tuesday, May 20.
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“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,” the actor’s publicist said in a statement on Tuesday. “The family has requested privacy during this time.”
Wendt is survived by wife Bernadette Birkett, as well as their three children and his two stepchildren. He was also the uncle of fellow actor Jason Sudeikis.
Wendt’s longtime Cheers co-stars paid tribute to the iconic star following the announcement of his death — including Perlman, Ted Danson (who played bar owner Sam Malone), and John Ratzenberger, who portrayed Norm’s best friend Cliff Claven on 11 seasons of the hit sitcom.
Danson, 77, shared a particularly poignant statement about the passing of his longtime friend and co-star.
“I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,” the Good Place alum told the New York Post in a statement via his rep. “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.”
