‘Cheers’ Fans Concerned About 75-Year-Old George Wendt After Dramatic Weight Change

No visit to the Cheers bar was complete without an enthusiastic greeting from the patrons – all of whom were cheering for “Norm!” Fans of Cheers followed George Wendt as Norm Peterson for 11 years throughout the titanic sitcom, but recently, they’ve grown concerned about the actor after seeing what they feel is a dramatic change in his health.

Actor and comedian Wendt just turned 75 last October and has been in the industry since ‘78. Cheers would remain his most famous gig, but he has several other television and film credits to his name as well, including some from just last year. But Cheers fans got to enjoy a blast from the past recently as the cast reunited for the Primetime Emmys, though for some this just gave them a close look at a cause for concern regarding Wendt.

Fans got to see George Wendt again but grew concerned about his weight

Hosted at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California on January 15, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards were a celebration not just of last year’s best programs but of television as a whole. It acted as a time capsule revisiting some of the most celebrated moments in television history, and of course, the cast of Cheers had a special spotlight all to themselves with Wendt right there with his colleagues.

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“Ah, this feels so nice to be here in front of all of you,” praised Ted Danson, known as Sam Malone in the series, “thank you.” Danson and his colleagues were part of presenting awards that night. Wendt was reportedly seen taking a seat on-stage not long after entering with an envelope for the reunion.

For most, it was a time of nostalgia. But for others who have followed Wendt’s career, there was cause for concern from his gait.

An update on the actor’s health

Dr. Gabe Mirkin, who is based in Florida and does not personally treat Wendt, saw the actor and believes, “The odds are very strong he is already diabetic or pre-diabetic.” Ominously, he added, “That would significantly increase his risk for heart attack, dementia, stroke, kidney and liver failure, and worse.”

Everyday fans also chimed in with their observations. “George has been having difficulty walking for a while because of his weight, but now he’s practically hobbled,” theorized one viewer. Another theorized his weight to be around 350 pounds and added, “Someone with his health history should wise up. George isn’t getting any younger.”

Just what is his health history, though? Freshers Live reports that Wendt’s manager, Geoff Cheddy, revealed that Wendt had undergone coronary bypass surgery to treat a constricted artery leading to his heart. This procedure followed Wendt’s hospitalization due to chest pains. This was back in 2018 and had reportedly disrupted his schedule to appear in a local play. Jump ahead to more recent years, and Wendt has, nevertheless, kept himself busy, with recent credits including Americanish, Christmas With the Campbells, The Goldbergs, and even The Masked Singer.

How did you think everyone was during the Cheers reunion?