When most people think of George Wendt, they remember Norm, the friendly face at the bar on Cheers, whose name everyone shouted. But before he walked into that Boston pub for the millionth time, he helped launch one of the biggest music videos of all time.
On November 14, 1991, Michael Jackson was about to release “Black or White,” a music video that would go on to break records and reach millions around the world. George Wendt was featured in the music video where he played the role of an annoyed dad whose kid, played by Macaulay Culkin, just wouldn’t turn the music down.
George Wendt’s played the role of a typical dad in Michael Jackson’s music video
RIP to George Wendt who played Macaulay Culkin’s dad in Michael Jackson’s Black or white
— Erisa | fan acc (@thegoldeneri) May 20, 2025
The video opens in a simple home, with Wendt yelling at Culkin for blasting his stereo. But in true Michael Jackson style, things quickly turn wild. Culkin cranks up his electric guitar, and the sound literally launches Wendt’s character who was still in his recliner, across the globe and into Africa.
At the time, Michael Jackson’s music videos were more than just songs with pictures. They were events, and these videos were usually directed by John Landis, the same mind behind ‘Thriller,’ ‘Black or White.’ He mixed music, storytelling, and surprise cameos in the videos which featured Wendt. Wendt legacy in Hollywood will forever be treasured and more of his brilliant performance will continue to resurface as the world mourns a true legend.
George Wendt passed away at 76
George Wendt passed away at 76, leaving behind more than just memories of Cheers. His old castmates, including Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman, shared how much he meant to them. “It’s going to take me a long time to get used to this,” Danson said. Perlman called him “the sweetest, kindest man I ever met.”
Wendt was one of the few Cheers characters who appeared in every single episode. His entrance, which was him walking into the bar as everyone shouted “Norm!” became iconic. Even after the show ended, people kept recognizing him. He once said, “I’m one of a few dozen people who have a unique perspective on what all these people are going through,” reflecting on fame years after Cheers ended. While most people will remember George Wendt as Norm, the man who brought laughs to screens across America, it’s worth remembering the time he helped kick off a global conversation in Black or White.