Entertainment

George Wendt‘s Cheers co-stars are sharing heartfelt tributes following his death at age 76.

Wendt’s family confirmed the news Tuesday morning, announcing that the actor died peacefully in his sleep at home, according to a statement shared by his representative with ABC News.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the statement read. “He will be missed forever.”

Wendt was best known for his iconic role as Norm Peterson on the classic sitcom Cheers, which earned him six Emmy nominations.

Calling Wendt “my friend,” Cheers co-star John Ratzenberger said in a statement to ABC News, “For eleven years on ‘Cheers,’ we shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television’s most beloved friendships. George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift.”

Ratzenberger described Wendt as “a true craftsman — humble, hilarious, and full of heart,” adding, “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,” the statement added. “My thoughts are with his wife Bernadette, their children, and everyone who loved him.’

Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone on Cheers, also shared a moving tribute in his statement to ABC News.

“I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,” the statement read. “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.”

Another Cheers co-star, Rhea Perlman, told ABC News in a statement that Wendt “was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met.”

“It was impossible not to like him,” she continued. “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.”

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Yellowjackets has been renewed for season 4. Paramount+ with Showtime announced the renewal of the popular series on Tuesday. Chris McCarthy, co-CEO of Paramount Global and president of Showtime/MTV entertainment Studios, said the company was thrilled to renew the coming-of-age survival drama show for another season after the success of season 3. Yellowjackets‘ third season was the most-watched ever, according to Paramount+, with its finale becoming the most-streamed episode of the whole series …

The teaser trailer for the new drama series IT: Welcome to Derry has arrived. HBO released the teaser trailer on Tuesday. The upcoming show will air in the fall on HBO and HBO Max. The new series is based on Stephen King‘s novel IT and expands on the story told in Andy Muschietti‘s films IT and IT Chapter Two …

Carey Mulligan might be making her way to Narnia. The actress is in talks to join Greta Gerwig‘s Narnia film adaptation for Netflix, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film is based on the popular novels by C.S. Lewis. Mulligan would play Digory’s mother in the film, which is reportedly an adaptation of the sixth novel in the series, titled The Magician’s Nephew …

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Nine Perfect Strangers is back for another season on Hulu. Season 2 finds Nicole Kidman’s character, the wellness guru Masha, leading another mysterious retreat for a group of people with plenty of secrets of their own.

Season 1 was based on the Liane Moriarty book of the same name. Season 2 takes the story beyond the novel, moving from the sprawling California hillsides to an Alpine castle. And that’s not the only change.

“It’s a whole new cast of characters, a whole new situation, and these characters — which is different from the first season — these characters know exactly what they’re getting into. They’re signing up for this exact psychedelic process,” Annie Murphy tells ABC Audio.

“We’ve got so many elements, so many moving parts of different characters. And to see them interact with each other, but also reveal a little bit of the past bit by bit … for an actor it’s the best playground to play in,” says star Henry Golding.

Murray Bartlett, star of season 1 of HBO’s The White Lotus, is no stranger to large ensemble shows set in the world of high-class hospitality. But his Nine Perfect Strangers character is something completely different.

“They’re also on opposite sides of the sort of retreat or hotel hierarchy. One’s trying to run the show, the other one is kind of a victim. But both really rich characters in different ways,” says Bartlett.

The show was filmed on location in Germany.

“We were all transplanted together to a different place,” says Bartlett. “You kinda feel like you’re on theater camp together. And I love that, I love being in a big ensemble cast.”

His co-star Christine Baranski feels the same way.

“We just bonded so quickly and so deeply as a cast that it’s going to go down as one of my favorite shows that I’ve ever done,” says Baranski. 

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George Wendt, the actor best known for playing Norm Peterson on the long-running sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76.

A family representative confirmed the news to ABC News on Tuesday and said that Wendt “died peacefully in his sleep while at home.”

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the rep said in a statement. “He will be missed forever.”

Wendt earned six Emmy nominations for his role on the NBC comedy series.

Born on Oct. 17, 1948, in Chicago, Wendt began his career in comedy at Chicago’s The Second City theater.

Prior to Cheers, he starred in a few roles on television, including M*A*S*H, Taxi and Soap, before his big break as Norm.

Wendt starred in all 275 episodes of Cheers, from when the show first aired in 1982 to its final episode in 1993.

In a 2021 interview with Chicago Magazine, Wendt recalled the first time he auditioned for Cheers.

“I needed to look like a guy who wanted to have another beer,” he said.

The actor added that Norm was exactly like him, just “with better writing.”

Following Cheers, Wendt appeared on Saturday Night Live, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Frasier, George Lopez and other television shows.

He also starred in several television films, including Alice in Wonderland in 1999, Strange Relations in 2001 and Santa Baby in 2006.

Wendt married his wife, Bernadette Birkett in 1978. The duo met while working at the Second City theater. They share a daughter named Hilary and two sons, Joe and Daniel.

Wendt is also the uncle of actor Jason Sudeikis.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

George Wendt, the actor best known for playing Norm Peterson on the long-running sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76.

A family representative confirmed the news to ABC News on Tuesday and said that Wendt “died peacefully in his sleep while at home.”

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the rep said in a statement. “He will be missed forever.”

Wendt earned six Emmy nominations for his role on the NBC comedy series.

Born on Oct. 17, 1948, in Chicago, Wendt began his career in comedy at Chicago’s The Second City theater.

Prior to Cheers, he starred in a few roles on television, including M*A*S*H, Taxi and Soap, before his big break as Norm.

Wendt starred in all 275 episodes of Cheers, from when the show first aired in 1982 to its final episode in 1993.

In a 2021 interview with Chicago Magazine, Wendt recalled the first time he auditioned for Cheers.

“I needed to look like a guy who wanted to have another beer,” he said.

The actor added that Norm was exactly like him, just “with better writing.”

Following Cheers, Wendt appeared on Saturday Night Live, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Frasier, George Lopez and other television shows.

He also starred in several television films, including Alice in Wonderland in 1999, Strange Relations in 2001 and Santa Baby in 2006.

Wendt married his wife, Bernadette Birkett in 1978. The duo met while working at the Second City theater. They share a daughter named Hilary and two sons, Joe and Daniel.

Wendt is also the uncle of actor Jason Sudeikis.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Did somebody order The Bear season 4 trailer? Yes, chef!

The official trailer for the fourth season of the FX series has arrived. Jeremy Allen White returns to his Emmy-winning lead role as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in this upcoming batch of new episodes.

“People go to restaurants to be taken care of, to relax, to not have to think about anything else for a minute,” Carmy says in the new trailer. “It’s hard, and it’s brutal and that’s what makes it special.”

This time around, Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are “pushing forward, determined not only to survive, but also to take The Bear to the next level,” according to the season’s official synopsis. “With new challenges around every corner, the team must adapt, adjust and overcome. This season, the pursuit of excellence isn’t just about getting better – it’s about deciding what’s worth holding on to.”

Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis also appears as Carmy’s mother in the trailer. “Hi Bear,” she says to Carmy, who looks back at her stunned.

Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson, Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon also star in the new season.

All episodes of The Bear season 4 arrive June 25 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

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The odds are ever in Elle Fanning‘s favor.

She has been cast as Effie Trinket in the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lionsgate made the announcement in a post shared to its social media on Tuesday.

Fanning will play the younger version of the character that was originated by Elizabeth Banks in the 2012 film The Hunger Games. Banks went on to reprise the role in its following three sequels.

This upcoming film is an adaptation of the prequel novel by Suzanne Collins. It will be directed by Francis Lawrence.

In Sunrise on the Reaping, Effie serves as Haymitch Abernathy’s stylist for the 50th annual Hunger Games, which he ends up winning.

Lionsgate also recently announced that Molly McCann and Iona Bell will portray the characters Louella and Lou Lou in the upcoming film. They join a cast that will be led by relative newcomer Joseph Zada as Haymitch.

The rest of the previously announced cast includes Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang and Ralph Fiennes, who will portray the villainous President Snow.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping arrives in theaters on Nov. 20, 2026.

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The teaser trailer for Zootopia 2 has arrived.

Disney released the teaser trailer for the animated sequel on Tuesday, which finds Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, voiced by Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin, hanging out with a new character named Gary De’Snake. He is a mysterious pit viper voiced by Ke Huy Quan.

“Judy and Nick find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De’Snake arrives in Zootopia and turns the animal metropolis upside down,” according to the film’s official synopsis. “To crack the case, they must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.”

ABC Audio spoke with Goodwin at the 2025 Disney Upfront, where she said it was amazing to get to return to the character of Judy Hopps.

“She’s the best,” Goodwin said. “I can’t generally watch myself. I think a lot of actors are like this. Zootopia‘s one I can watch again and again, and had to, having children. And I have to say, that made it easier to slip right back in, because I was like, oh, I really get who this character is now. I’ve seen the movie a hundred times.”

Disney Animation chief and creative officer Jared Bush wrote and directed Zootopia 2. He promises a larger world for fans to explore.

“We are beyond excited to welcome everyone back to the outrageous, expansive animal metropolis of Zootopia,” Bush said. “Whether it’s the marshes of semi-aquatic mammals, the vast desert dunes or even greater mysteries beyond, our heroes, Judy and Nick, will meet a lot of new friends, and discover even more about the world, themselves and a brand-new snake in town.”

Shakira returns to voice Gazelle in the sequel, while Fortune Feimster and Quinta Brunson join the cast.

Zootopia 2 arrives in theaters on Nov. 26.

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You’ve got a friend in Conan.

Conan O’Brien will play a new character in the fifth Toy Story film, Disney has announced. The comedian will play a character called Smartypants in the upcoming film.

While the casting was first announced at Disney’s Licensing Expo presentation on Monday, O’Brien confirmed the news in a video shared to Instagram.

“I’ve got big news. I’m going to be in Toy Story 5. Isn’t that crazy? Legendary franchise. These films are amazing. I can’t believe this,” O’Brien said. “Initially, I wanted the role of Woody, but they told me they already promised that to Tom Hanks.”

He also joked that Smartypants is a better character than Woody or even Buzz Lightyear.

“It’s the best character of them all,” O’Brien said.

Hanks and Tim Allen are returning to their iconic roles of Woody and Buzz in the upcoming sequel. Ernie Hudson also joins the cast, taking over the role of Combat Carl, which was originated by the late Carl Weathers.

An official plot synopsis for the film has not been announced, but Disney has said it will cover the toys dealing with children’s new fascination with electronics.

Andrew Stanton, who drafted the original treatment for the first Toy Story and directed Finding Nemo, directs Toy Story 5, while McKenna Harris co-directs and Jessica Choi produces.

Toy Story 5 arrives in theaters on June 19, 2026.

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Jennifer Lawrence is getting candid about the challenges of postpartum and motherhood while promoting her new film Die My Love at the Cannes Film Festival.

During a press conference for the upcoming thriller, which follows a new mother’s descent into madness, the Oscar winner reflected on how the role hit close to home.

“As a mother, it was really hard to separate what I would do as opposed to what she would do. And it was just heartbreaking,” she said, according to Variety. “I had just had my firstborn, and there’s not really anything like postpartum. It’s extremely isolating, which is so interesting.”

Lawrence drew parallels between her own experience and that of the film’s main character.

“When [director] Lynne [Ramsay] moves this couple into Montana, she doesn’t have a community,” she continued. “She doesn’t have her people. But the truth is, extreme anxiety and extreme depression is isolating, no matter where you are. You feel like an alien.”

Postpartum depression affects as many as one in eight women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can cause symptoms such as withdrawal from loved ones, excessive crying, anxiety, anger, self-doubt and intrusive thoughts. Unlike the common “baby blues,” postpartum depression can last for weeks or months and is more intense.

Die My Love, which also stars Robert Pattinson as Lawrence’s overwhelmed husband, had its world premiere at Cannes. Based on Ariana Harwicz‘s 2017 novel of the same name, the film centers on a new mother’s spiral into psychosis following postpartum depression, which strains her mental health and marriage.

Lawrence, who shares two children with husband Cooke Maroney, revealed she was five months pregnant with her second child while filming.

ABC News has reached out to Lawrence’s team for additional comment.

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