Latest news with #Wendt
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Cheers' star George Wendt's cause of death is released
"Cheers" star George Wendt had experienced years of health issues when he died suddenly in May. According to a death certificate reviewed by USA TODAY on June 10, the 76-year-old actor was pronounced dead at his Studio City, California, home the morning of May 20. His wife of nearly 50 years, Bernadette Birkett, informed authorities of his death. Wendt's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. Contributing conditions were years of congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. He also had end-stage renal disease and hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol). 'George brought Norm to life': Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, more 'Cheers' stars pay tribute Heart failure, which can develop as a result of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, impacts the organ's ability to pump blood effectively. Per Mayo Clinic, coronary artery disease can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac arrest – or the loss of heart activity because of the irregular rhythm of the heart – as plaque build-up causes arteries to narrow. End-stage renal disease is the last stage of long-term kidney disease and indicates the kidneys' inability to support normal bodily functions like getting rid of waste and excess water. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, between 300,000 and 450,000 people die each year from cardiac arrest. Nine out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will die. CPR and defibrillation can be used to treat a person in cardiac arrest while awaiting emergency services. Wendt, best known for his beloved role as beer-quaffing barfly Norm Peterson for all 11 seasons of the iconic NBC comedy, earned six consecutive best supporting actor Emmy nominations playing his one line-delivering Everyman character. He also played the Norm role in the short-lived spinoff "The Tortellis," a 1990 episode of NBC's "Wings," and in an episode of the "Cheers" spinoff "Frasier," featuring psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). His death occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the final "Cheers" episode that aired on May 20, 1993. In one of his final public appearances at the 75th Emmy Awards in 2024, Wendt reunited with his "Cheers" co-stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Grammer and Ratzenberger on a recreated set of the show's iconic Boston bar. Wendt's memorable entrance brought one final "Norm!" from his assembled costars. The cast honored Wendt in individual tributes following the news of his death. Danson noted it would "take me a long time to get used to this" in a statement shared with USA TODAY. Ratzenberger said, "What you saw on screen was exactly who (Wendt) was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved." Perlman called Wendt "the sweetest, kindest man I ever met" and Grammer described him as "an extraordinary guy." Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Wendt cause of death released for 'Cheers' star
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Cheers' star George Wendt's cause of death is released
'Cheers' star George Wendt's cause of death is released Show Caption Hide Caption 'Cheers' actor George Wendt dies at 76 George Wendt earned six consecutive best supporting actor Emmy nominations playing Norm Peterson on NBC's "Cheers." "Cheers" star George Wendt had experienced years of health issues when he died suddenly in May. According to a death certificate reviewed by USA TODAY on June 10, the 76-year-old actor was pronounced dead at his Studio City, California, home the morning of May 20. His wife of nearly 50 years, Bernadette Birkett, informed authorities of his death. Wendt's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. Contributing conditions were years of congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. He also had end-stage renal disease and hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol). 'George brought Norm to life': Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, more 'Cheers' stars pay tribute Heart failure, which can develop as a result of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, impacts the organ's ability to pump blood effectively. Per Mayo Clinic, coronary artery disease can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac arrest – or the loss of heart activity because of the irregular rhythm of the heart – as plaque build-up causes arteries to narrow. End-stage renal disease is the last stage of long-term kidney disease and indicates the kidneys' inability to support normal bodily functions like getting rid of waste and excess water. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, between 300,000 and 450,000 people die each year from cardiac arrest. Nine out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will die. CPR and defibrillation can be used to treat a person in cardiac arrest while awaiting emergency services. George Wendt died on the 32nd anniversary of the 'Cheers' finale Wendt, best known for his beloved role as beer-quaffing barfly Norm Peterson for all 11 seasons of the iconic NBC comedy, earned six consecutive best supporting actor Emmy nominations playing his one line-delivering Everyman character. He also played the Norm role in the short-lived spinoff "The Tortellis," a 1990 episode of NBC's "Wings," and in an episode of the "Cheers" spinoff "Frasier," featuring psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). His death occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the final "Cheers" episode that aired on May 20, 1993. In one of his final public appearances at the 75th Emmy Awards in 2024, Wendt reunited with his "Cheers" co-stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Grammer and Ratzenberger on a recreated set of the show's iconic Boston bar. Wendt's memorable entrance brought one final "Norm!" from his assembled costars. The cast honored Wendt in individual tributes following the news of his death. Danson noted it would "take me a long time to get used to this" in a statement shared with USA TODAY. Ratzenberger said, "What you saw on screen was exactly who (Wendt) was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved." Perlman called Wendt "the sweetest, kindest man I ever met" and Grammer described him as "an extraordinary guy." Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
The Advertiser
07-06-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
The photos that captured a disaster: 18 years on from the Pasha Bulker storm
Ask any local on the street and chances are they'll tell you where they were on June 8, 2007 when the massive 76,000-tonne Pasha Bulker ran aground on Nobbys Beach in a wild tempest of fierce seas, roaring gale winds, and pounding rain. That month is still one of the wettest on record for Newcastle, as nearly half a metre of rain fell over Nobbys Head, eclipsing the Bureau of Meteorology's 161-year average for the month over four times over. The city had woken up to a rotten morning. The beaches were pummelled by a merciless swell, whipped under tearing winds and a pouring rain. Veteran newsman Greg Wendt was waiting in the gale for his morning coffee at the Merewether Surf Club when he caught word of a ship might have been in trouble off the coast. As he made his way into work at the Newcastle Herald offices, the phones were ringing off the hook. The Pasha Bulker had been fighting her way up the coast, battered by a 10-metre swell. The ship was unloaded and sitting high in the water, and her captain was fighting hard to get the propeller to find purchase. By the time Wendt arrived on the waterside with photographer David Wicks, the untethered ship was floundering. "The captain of the ship was trying to reverse it and then jerk the bow into the teeth of the storm, so he was reversing down towards Nobbys," Wendt reported for the paper on the 10th anniversary of the storm. "There is a great shot that (former Herald photographer Darren Pateman) got of the Pasha Bulker being hit by a wave and was bent almost over the rocks at the Cowrie Hole. "I thought that's where it is going to end up. But it kept going in reverse towards Nobbys at a rate of knots. "This wave just swamped it and all you could see was a bit of the funnel and a little bit of the bow and then it disappeared in the murk towards Nobbys.'' The ship ultimately ran aground on Nobbys Beach as its crew sheltered together inside the swaying 225-metre vessel, before they were rescued from the deck by a pair of Westpac Rescue Helicopters. Notably among them, crewman Greg Ramplin, who could be seen descending into the tempest's teeth countless times to winch the crew to safety, and veteran lifeguard Warren Smith who leapt on board a jet ski with a few fellow surf life savers to brave the ocean and patrol from the water. After 90 minutes, the extraordinary rescue - which continues to be lauded as one of the great maritime operations - was over. Ramplin collapsed, utterly spent, on the sodden turf outside the surf club. The dramatic events of June 8 preceded more than a year of investigation and scrutiny by the national transport watchdog, which finally found the bulk of blame for the grounding rested on the ship's master, who either failed or didn't properly understand how to ballast the ship for bad weather. The investigation, which prompted significant changes to the Port of Newcastle's arrival and vessel queuing protocols, found that most of the 27 ships, including the Pasha Bulker, that had tried to ride out the storm in the port's coal queue dragged anchors in the gale before the Pasha's master attempted to haul anchor and adjust the ship's course ultimately leading to the grounding just after 9am. "A number of masters did not appropriately ballast their ships," investigators concluded in 2008, among a litany of findings and recommendations. "It was also found that the substantial ship queue increased the risks in the anchorage and resulted in another near grounding, a near collision and a number of close-quarters situations at the time." The Japanese-owned ship was renamed Drake for a time, and then Anthea in 2018, and was last reported to be off the coast of Brazil this week en route to the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Ask any local on the street and chances are they'll tell you where they were on June 8, 2007 when the massive 76,000-tonne Pasha Bulker ran aground on Nobbys Beach in a wild tempest of fierce seas, roaring gale winds, and pounding rain. That month is still one of the wettest on record for Newcastle, as nearly half a metre of rain fell over Nobbys Head, eclipsing the Bureau of Meteorology's 161-year average for the month over four times over. The city had woken up to a rotten morning. The beaches were pummelled by a merciless swell, whipped under tearing winds and a pouring rain. Veteran newsman Greg Wendt was waiting in the gale for his morning coffee at the Merewether Surf Club when he caught word of a ship might have been in trouble off the coast. As he made his way into work at the Newcastle Herald offices, the phones were ringing off the hook. The Pasha Bulker had been fighting her way up the coast, battered by a 10-metre swell. The ship was unloaded and sitting high in the water, and her captain was fighting hard to get the propeller to find purchase. By the time Wendt arrived on the waterside with photographer David Wicks, the untethered ship was floundering. "The captain of the ship was trying to reverse it and then jerk the bow into the teeth of the storm, so he was reversing down towards Nobbys," Wendt reported for the paper on the 10th anniversary of the storm. "There is a great shot that (former Herald photographer Darren Pateman) got of the Pasha Bulker being hit by a wave and was bent almost over the rocks at the Cowrie Hole. "I thought that's where it is going to end up. But it kept going in reverse towards Nobbys at a rate of knots. "This wave just swamped it and all you could see was a bit of the funnel and a little bit of the bow and then it disappeared in the murk towards Nobbys.'' The ship ultimately ran aground on Nobbys Beach as its crew sheltered together inside the swaying 225-metre vessel, before they were rescued from the deck by a pair of Westpac Rescue Helicopters. Notably among them, crewman Greg Ramplin, who could be seen descending into the tempest's teeth countless times to winch the crew to safety, and veteran lifeguard Warren Smith who leapt on board a jet ski with a few fellow surf life savers to brave the ocean and patrol from the water. After 90 minutes, the extraordinary rescue - which continues to be lauded as one of the great maritime operations - was over. Ramplin collapsed, utterly spent, on the sodden turf outside the surf club. The dramatic events of June 8 preceded more than a year of investigation and scrutiny by the national transport watchdog, which finally found the bulk of blame for the grounding rested on the ship's master, who either failed or didn't properly understand how to ballast the ship for bad weather. The investigation, which prompted significant changes to the Port of Newcastle's arrival and vessel queuing protocols, found that most of the 27 ships, including the Pasha Bulker, that had tried to ride out the storm in the port's coal queue dragged anchors in the gale before the Pasha's master attempted to haul anchor and adjust the ship's course ultimately leading to the grounding just after 9am. "A number of masters did not appropriately ballast their ships," investigators concluded in 2008, among a litany of findings and recommendations. "It was also found that the substantial ship queue increased the risks in the anchorage and resulted in another near grounding, a near collision and a number of close-quarters situations at the time." The Japanese-owned ship was renamed Drake for a time, and then Anthea in 2018, and was last reported to be off the coast of Brazil this week en route to the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Ask any local on the street and chances are they'll tell you where they were on June 8, 2007 when the massive 76,000-tonne Pasha Bulker ran aground on Nobbys Beach in a wild tempest of fierce seas, roaring gale winds, and pounding rain. That month is still one of the wettest on record for Newcastle, as nearly half a metre of rain fell over Nobbys Head, eclipsing the Bureau of Meteorology's 161-year average for the month over four times over. The city had woken up to a rotten morning. The beaches were pummelled by a merciless swell, whipped under tearing winds and a pouring rain. Veteran newsman Greg Wendt was waiting in the gale for his morning coffee at the Merewether Surf Club when he caught word of a ship might have been in trouble off the coast. As he made his way into work at the Newcastle Herald offices, the phones were ringing off the hook. The Pasha Bulker had been fighting her way up the coast, battered by a 10-metre swell. The ship was unloaded and sitting high in the water, and her captain was fighting hard to get the propeller to find purchase. By the time Wendt arrived on the waterside with photographer David Wicks, the untethered ship was floundering. "The captain of the ship was trying to reverse it and then jerk the bow into the teeth of the storm, so he was reversing down towards Nobbys," Wendt reported for the paper on the 10th anniversary of the storm. "There is a great shot that (former Herald photographer Darren Pateman) got of the Pasha Bulker being hit by a wave and was bent almost over the rocks at the Cowrie Hole. "I thought that's where it is going to end up. But it kept going in reverse towards Nobbys at a rate of knots. "This wave just swamped it and all you could see was a bit of the funnel and a little bit of the bow and then it disappeared in the murk towards Nobbys.'' The ship ultimately ran aground on Nobbys Beach as its crew sheltered together inside the swaying 225-metre vessel, before they were rescued from the deck by a pair of Westpac Rescue Helicopters. Notably among them, crewman Greg Ramplin, who could be seen descending into the tempest's teeth countless times to winch the crew to safety, and veteran lifeguard Warren Smith who leapt on board a jet ski with a few fellow surf life savers to brave the ocean and patrol from the water. After 90 minutes, the extraordinary rescue - which continues to be lauded as one of the great maritime operations - was over. Ramplin collapsed, utterly spent, on the sodden turf outside the surf club. The dramatic events of June 8 preceded more than a year of investigation and scrutiny by the national transport watchdog, which finally found the bulk of blame for the grounding rested on the ship's master, who either failed or didn't properly understand how to ballast the ship for bad weather. The investigation, which prompted significant changes to the Port of Newcastle's arrival and vessel queuing protocols, found that most of the 27 ships, including the Pasha Bulker, that had tried to ride out the storm in the port's coal queue dragged anchors in the gale before the Pasha's master attempted to haul anchor and adjust the ship's course ultimately leading to the grounding just after 9am. "A number of masters did not appropriately ballast their ships," investigators concluded in 2008, among a litany of findings and recommendations. "It was also found that the substantial ship queue increased the risks in the anchorage and resulted in another near grounding, a near collision and a number of close-quarters situations at the time." The Japanese-owned ship was renamed Drake for a time, and then Anthea in 2018, and was last reported to be off the coast of Brazil this week en route to the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Ask any local on the street and chances are they'll tell you where they were on June 8, 2007 when the massive 76,000-tonne Pasha Bulker ran aground on Nobbys Beach in a wild tempest of fierce seas, roaring gale winds, and pounding rain. That month is still one of the wettest on record for Newcastle, as nearly half a metre of rain fell over Nobbys Head, eclipsing the Bureau of Meteorology's 161-year average for the month over four times over. The city had woken up to a rotten morning. The beaches were pummelled by a merciless swell, whipped under tearing winds and a pouring rain. Veteran newsman Greg Wendt was waiting in the gale for his morning coffee at the Merewether Surf Club when he caught word of a ship might have been in trouble off the coast. As he made his way into work at the Newcastle Herald offices, the phones were ringing off the hook. The Pasha Bulker had been fighting her way up the coast, battered by a 10-metre swell. The ship was unloaded and sitting high in the water, and her captain was fighting hard to get the propeller to find purchase. By the time Wendt arrived on the waterside with photographer David Wicks, the untethered ship was floundering. "The captain of the ship was trying to reverse it and then jerk the bow into the teeth of the storm, so he was reversing down towards Nobbys," Wendt reported for the paper on the 10th anniversary of the storm. "There is a great shot that (former Herald photographer Darren Pateman) got of the Pasha Bulker being hit by a wave and was bent almost over the rocks at the Cowrie Hole. "I thought that's where it is going to end up. But it kept going in reverse towards Nobbys at a rate of knots. "This wave just swamped it and all you could see was a bit of the funnel and a little bit of the bow and then it disappeared in the murk towards Nobbys.'' The ship ultimately ran aground on Nobbys Beach as its crew sheltered together inside the swaying 225-metre vessel, before they were rescued from the deck by a pair of Westpac Rescue Helicopters. Notably among them, crewman Greg Ramplin, who could be seen descending into the tempest's teeth countless times to winch the crew to safety, and veteran lifeguard Warren Smith who leapt on board a jet ski with a few fellow surf life savers to brave the ocean and patrol from the water. After 90 minutes, the extraordinary rescue - which continues to be lauded as one of the great maritime operations - was over. Ramplin collapsed, utterly spent, on the sodden turf outside the surf club. The dramatic events of June 8 preceded more than a year of investigation and scrutiny by the national transport watchdog, which finally found the bulk of blame for the grounding rested on the ship's master, who either failed or didn't properly understand how to ballast the ship for bad weather. The investigation, which prompted significant changes to the Port of Newcastle's arrival and vessel queuing protocols, found that most of the 27 ships, including the Pasha Bulker, that had tried to ride out the storm in the port's coal queue dragged anchors in the gale before the Pasha's master attempted to haul anchor and adjust the ship's course ultimately leading to the grounding just after 9am. "A number of masters did not appropriately ballast their ships," investigators concluded in 2008, among a litany of findings and recommendations. "It was also found that the substantial ship queue increased the risks in the anchorage and resulted in another near grounding, a near collision and a number of close-quarters situations at the time." The Japanese-owned ship was renamed Drake for a time, and then Anthea in 2018, and was last reported to be off the coast of Brazil this week en route to the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
George Wendt's Cause Of Death Revealed
'Cheers' star George Wendt died from cardiac arrest amid an array of health problems, according to his death certificate obtained by several outlets Thursday. The underlying causes for Wendt were listed as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension. He also suffered from kidney failure and high cholesterol, outlets noted from the document issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Wendt's body was cremated May 28, eight days after he reportedly died in his sleep at age 76, according to the certificate. Wendt was famous for playing the brew-obsessed barfly Norm on the classic sitcom 'Cheers,' which ran from 1982 to 1993. In a 2024 podcast with former castmates Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, Wendt recalled his agent sending him to audition for 'Cheers.' He discovered he would have to utter just one word for the part ― fittingly enough, it was 'beer.' But when that idea was scrapped, he read for the role that eventually became Norm. George Wendt's 1-Word Audition For 'Cheers' Was So Norm George Wendt, Who Played Legendary Barfly On 'Cheers,' Dies At 76 Ted Danson Says The Quaintest Thing After Sex, According To Mary Steenburgen
American Military News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
‘Cheers' star George Wendt's cause of death confirmed
A cause of death has been confirmed for 'Cheers' star George Wendt, who died on May 20 at the age of 76. The beloved actor died from cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and obtained by TMZ. The certificate cites congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension as underlying causes of Wendt's death, with significant contributing conditions of kidney failure and high cholesterol. Wendt reportedly died peacefully in his sleep at his home, and cremated eight days later. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' his family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' Best known for his role as Norm Peterson on 'Cheers,' Wendt appeared in all 275 episodes of the NBC sitcom, which ran from 1982 to 1993. The six-time Emmy Award nominee later went on to headline 'The George Wendt Show,' appear in countless movies and craft a stage career that took him to Broadway in 'Art,' 'Hairspray' and 'Elf.' ___ © 2025 New York Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
