Archive May 20, 2025

George Wendt, who was best known for playing Norm Peterson on the beloved sitcom Cheers, passed away at the age of 76, and his former co-stars have been paying tribute.

Celebrities have been paying tribute to the late George Wendt following the actor’s death, including the late star’s Cheers co-star Ted Danson. Ted, who played Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom, said in a statement that he was “devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us.”

The Good Place actor expressed his heartfelt condolences to Bernadette and the kids to PEOPLE. It will take me a while to get used to this. Georgie, I adore you.

Cliff Clavin, played by Ted and George’s co-star John Ratzenberger, said: “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 seem effortless.” His gift was that.

He continues, “He was a true craftsman. He was heartfelt, humorous, and humble.” With impeccable comedic timing and a deep devotion to those he loved, what you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen. I’ll miss our conversation and the eponymous friendships that were so important.

Melissa Joan Hart, who worked with George on the later series of Sabrina The Teenage Witch, told her Instagram followers this evening: “Heaven just got a little funnier with #GeorgeWendt. It was a thrill to work beside him on #SabrinatheTeenageWitch for a handful of episodes.

When he was on set, I was a big fan of #Cheers and knew I was one of the best. Our cast and crew were impressed with his constant presence and warm, caring, and kind nature. In peace, please! Sorry for the grainy photo, #GodBlesstheFunnyPeople.

It comes after George, who was best known for his role as the endearing, beer-swilling Norm Peterson on the renowned sitcom Cheer, passed away at the age of 76. On Tuesday, the actor passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home.

George was a loyal friend, a loving father, and a confidant to all those fortunate enough to have known him, a representative told the Hollywood Reporter. He will forever be missed. During this time, the family has requested privacy.

In a previous interview, George acknowledged how much the NBC show had impacted his life and how it had affected him. “I was fortunate to be a part of something that became so beloved in people’s lives.

The Norm character would yell “Afternoon/evening everyone! ” when they arrived at the bar in the sitcom. with him shouting his name back to the entire bar. The character quickly grew in popularity with viewers.

The popular television show received 117 Emmy nominations overall, including four for Outstanding Comedy Series. For his part, George’s portrayal of Norm won six Emmy nominations in a row.

He was a majorstay of the show, appearing in every episode until May 1993, when it was over. At the Emmy Awards in January 2024, George and his fellow Cheers cast members made a surprise appearance on stage. Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer were among those who showed up for the surprise reunion.

George had previously appeared as a guest on numerous well-known TV programs like Taxi and M*A*S*H prior to Cheers.

In 1995, George starred in a self-titled CBS sitcom following the enormous success of Cheers. After only eight episodes, the program was canceled, though.

He also appeared in Columbo and Sabrina the Teenage Witch on television. Bernadette Birkett, George’s wife, reprised Vera from his never-seen sitcom on Cheers. A daughter and two sons were the parents’ three children.

Singer and actress Liza Minneli speaks candidly in new film coming to BBC at weekend

WITH four failed marriages, Liza Minnelli could be forgiven for being cynical about relationships. But the singer, actress and dancer is a cheerleader for romance, saying: “I feel wonderful about love. I wanted it to be like it was in the songs.”

In the film Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, the star and her tight circle of friends open up about her life and her multiple husbands.

Being the daughter of Wizard of Oz icon and singer Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli put Liza in the spotlight from the very beginning – and her love life was something that always made headlines.

Her mum Judy married five times and Liza, 79, has notched up four. Her first marriage, to entertainer Peter Allen in 1967, lasted only a few years because she found him in a compromising position with another man.

Liza says in the Bruce David Klein-directed biopic: “Peter was so much fun to be with but I think he felt restricted. He needed, literally, to come out!” Friends adored the Aussie and Liza’s actress pal Mia Farrow reveals: “It was the happiest I saw her in her private.”

The star’s second husband, from 1974 to 1979, was actor Jack Haley Jnr, whose father also starred in The Wizard of Oz, leading pals to joke “the daughter of Dorothy has married the son of The Tin Man”.

From 1979 to 1992 Liza was married to sculptor Mark Gero. Friends claim he was “a solid rock” in her life because he was not from the showbiz world.

A decade later she wed US producer David Gest. The pair separated in 2003 and divorced in 2007. There has been much speculation around I’m A Celebrity and Celebrity Big Brother star Gest’s sexuality, with Sir Elton John adding fuel to the fire by joking he wanted to “find Liza a heterosexual husband”.

Gest denied he was gay and claimed in interviews that he only loved women. But in the new film, when asked about her track record of relationships, Liza quips: “Give me a gay break, will you?” then tells the cameraman: “I’m sorry, cut that!”

Gest – who died from a stroke in a hotel room in 2016, aged 62 – is the spouse who receives the harshest backlash from Liza’s pals. It seems no one liked him or trusted him, and some make him out as a controlling and manipulative figure in her life.

Singer and pianist Michael Feinstein says bluntly: “Bette Davis said you should only speak good about the dead. Well, David Gest is dead. Good!” Liza’s close pal, former dentist Allan Lazare, who died last year, is also critical.

He is seen saying: “They met during a period of time in Liza’s life when she wasn’t doing so well.

“Physically, she gained a lot of weight and David Gest charmed her and romanced her. Gest had the gift of the gab. Nothing was real and basically for a while he took over her life. He took everyone in her life out of her life.

“It ended when Liza went on tour and she came back and David Gest took everything out of the apartment and left her with a bed and a lamp. He took every picture and every piece of furniture and put it into storage.”

And when Knots Landing actress Michele Lee tells the camera: “I knew about all her men”, Liza interrupts, saying: “And some of them weren’t men at all.” Such quips seem to have become a way of life for Liza, according to those closest to her.

Performer and artist Jim Caruso points out that the star – who is a rare showbiz “EGOT”, having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award – was taught to keep quiet about her private life and turmoil.

Instead, she made out to her fans and the media that her life was “like a cabaret” – referencing her 1972 hit movie. He says: “Liza was taught by her MGM parents how to make things sound fantastic. She will never go on camera and talk about the dirt.

“She has acknowledged that she didn’t always make the greatest decision in relationships and laughs about it because there was genuine love deep in every one of those in different ways.” Liza is best known for Cabaret, Liza with a Z and Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film New York, New York.

In later years she enjoyed success with the Pet Shop Boys on the album Results and appeared in the Sex and the City 2 movie and on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The biopic, which premiered last year and airs on BBC2 this weekend, also looks into how she was affected by the death of mum Judy.

The former child star was 47 when she died of an accidental overdose in 1969, when Liza was 23. Liza recalls: “I started crying and I didn’t stop for about eight days. It just was devastating to me.” Liza also battled her own addictions.

She admits: “I was the kind of person who never fell down. I never missed work. I never did any of the things you think of when you think of somebody being a real mess.

“But inside I felt so weird. I was taking valium and prescription drugs but I really didn’t feel like I had a drug problem. I’d drink silly drinks like rum and coke. And I started to notice that drinking made me feel better from that. It is really that simple but then it turned on me, like it always does.”

The star says she hid her problems because she did not want people to know she was under stress. She adds: “I always wanted to be the hero.” But she is very candid about growing up in the shadow of her mum, saying: “Being Judy Garland’s daughter is not a lot of laughs but I am grateful for all the bad stuff. It prepared me for the rest of my life. It made me understand a little bit more about myself.”

Tom Cruise was caught off guard when he was asked a Father’s Day question during Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning premiere in New York

Tom Cruise was caught off guard during an awkward moment at his Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning premiere in New York earlier this week.

The 62-year-old has been touring the globe promoting the eighth and final movie in the series, and although he must have been asked millions of questions, one in particular had him tongue tied.

“Father’s Day is just around the corner,” an E! News reporter told the star. She then followed up by asking: “What would an ideal Father’s Day look like for you?”

Visibly taken aback, the Hollywood star looked to the side as he said: “You know…” After a pause, he then continued: “Just having fun, man. Making movies, big adventure, having a great time,” before the interview came to a close.

Tom is father to three children. Bella, 32, Connor, 30, and Suri,19. He shares his first two children with wife Nicole Kidman. The pair decided to adopt after going through fertility challenges.

The star later married Katie Holmes, and the couple welcomed their daughter Suri in 2006. However, he has been long estranged from his youngest daughter, since his divorce from Katie in 2012, despite reportedly being close to his oldest two children with Nicole.

Last year, Tom’s teen daughter debuted her name change as he was listed as Suri Noelle during her high school graduation. Noelle is her mother, Katie Holme’s middle name.

Fans took to the comments of the video after witnessing the awkward moment, as one penned: “A simple question about Father’s Day and he can’t answer it.

“He has gotten to a point where all he can talk about is movies and his love of movies. What about being a parent, Tom? There was a time when that was important to you. Sad for this man.”

However, others were left unimpressed with the interviewer, with one commenting: “naughty final question….I’d never give her another interview.”

It’s been an eventful few days for the superstar as he finally broke his silence about his new girlfriend Ana de Armas who he started dating earlier this year. Sharing his thoughts on the actress to Extra, he said: “Very, very talented, great dramatic actress, comedic, tremendous ability, learns quickly.”

It came after his partner opened up about her excitement as she prepares to work with Tom on John Wick spinoff, Ballerina. Speaking to Good Morning America, the 36-year-old said: “It’s so much fun. We’re definitely working on a lot of things. It’s not just one, but a few projects, ” she added. “With [directors] Doug Liman and Christopher McQuarrie and, of course, Tom. And I’m so excited.”