George Wendt Biography (1948-)

Full name, George Robert Wendt; born October 17, 1948, in Chicago, IL; married Bernadette Birkett (an actress), 1978; children: Joshua, Andrew, Hilary, Daniel, Joe. Addresses: Agent: Paradigm Talent Agency, 360 North Crescent Dr., North Bldg., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor
Birth Details
October 17, 1948
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Gus Bertoia, Making the Grade, CBS, 1982
  • Hilary Norman "Norm" Peterson, Cheers, NBC, 1982-93
  • George Coleman, The George Wendt Show (also known as Under theHood), CBS, 1995
  • Les Polonsky, The Naked Truth (also known as Wilde Again),NBC, 1997
  • Mike Selby, a recurring role, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (also known as Sabrina and Sabrina Goes to College), The WB, 2001-2002
  • Host, House of Dreams, Arts and Entertainment, 2004
  • Tug Clarke, Modern Men (also known as The Evolution of Man), The WB, beginning c. 2006
  • Miniseries
  • Contestant, The Great American Spelling Bee, Fox, 2004
  • Movies
  • Mr. Sweeney, The Ratings Game (also known as The Mogul), The Movie Channel, 1984
  • Title role, Oblomov, BBC, 1989
  • Warren Kooey, Hostage for a Day, Fox, 1994
  • Graham McVeigh, Columbo: Strange Bedfellows (also known as Columbo: Une etrange association), ABC, 1995
  • Harry MacAfee, Bye Bye Birdie (musical), ABC, 1995
  • Mac, Shame II: The Secret, Lifetime, 1995
  • Charlie, Alien Avengers (also known as Roger Corman Presents "Alien Avengers" and Welcome to Planet Earth), Showtime, 1996
  • Charlie, Alien Avengers II (also known as Aliens among Us,Roger Corman Presents "Alien Avengers II," and Welcome to Planet Earth II), Showtime, 1997
  • Sam, The Price of Heaven (also known as Blessed Assurance),CBS, 1997
  • Fred Tweedledee, Alice in Wonderland, NBC, 1999
  • Sheldon Sparks, The Pooch and the Pauper, ABC, 1999
  • Archie, The Prime Gig, Independent Film Channel, 2000
  • Howard, My Beautiful Son (also known as Strange Relations),Showtime, 2001
  • Specials
  • Avery Schreiber Live from the Second City, 1980
  • Bill Murray Live from the Second City, 1980
  • Voice of Raoul, Garfield on the Town (animated), CBS, 1983
  • Voice of second ranger, Garfield in the Rough (animated), CBS, 1984
  • Voice of Johnnie Throat, The Romance of Betty Boop (animated), CBS, 1985
  • The Second City 25th Anniversary Special, HBO, 1985
  • Larry, Comic Relief, HBO, 1986
  • The 55th Annual King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1988
  • Improv Tonight, syndicated, 1988
  • "Mickey's 60th Birthday Special," The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1988
  • Cheers: Special 200th Episode Celebration, NBC, 1990
  • "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration," The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1990
  • Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1990
  • Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special (also known as The Earth Day Special), ABC, 1990
  • A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan (also known as Los Angeles and Chicago Salute to Michael Jordan), NBC, 1991
  • Dangerous (also known as Black or White), Fox, 1991
  • Comic Relief V, HBO, 1992
  • Last Call! A Cheers' Celebration, NBC, 1993
  • Comic Relief American Comedy Festival, ABC, 1996
  • (Uncredited) Member of audience, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Tribute toMonty Python (also known as Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen), HBO, 1998
  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley, NBC, 1998
  • The Frasier Story (documentary), Channel 4 (England), 1999
  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey, NBC, 1999
  • Tom Robertson, Robertson's Greatest Hits, Nickelodeon, 2001
  • (In archive footage) Second to None, PBS, 2001
  • NBC 75th Anniversary Special (also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration), NBC, 2002
  • TV Guide 50 Best Shows of All Time: A 50th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 2002
  • (In archive footage) Bob Swerski, 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments, E! Entertainment Television, 2004
  • Himself and witness, Whose Curse Is Worse? Red Sox and Cubs on Trial (also known as Who's Curse Is Worse: Red Sox and Cubs on Trial), ESPN, 2004
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1990
  • Presenter, The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1992
  • Presenter, The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1993
  • The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1996
  • Episodic
  • The exterminator, "Latka the Playboy," Taxi, ABC, 1981
  • Monty, "Monty Falls for Alice," Alice, CBS, 1981
  • Sergeant Tate (Hardy), "Murder Is a Drag," Hart to Hart, ABC, 1981
  • Short order cook, Soap, ABC, 1981
  • American Dream, ABC, 1981
  • Private La Roche, "Trick or Treatment," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1982
  • Likely Stories, Vol. 4, Cinemax, c. 1983
  • George, "Behind Every Great Man," Cheers, NBC, 1985
  • Norm Peterson, "Cheers," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1985
  • Barney Schlesinger, "The World Next Door," The Twilight Zone, CBS,1986
  • Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "Saturday Night," Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1986, 1991
  • Norm Peterson, "Frankie Comes to Dinner," The Tortellis, NBC, 1987
  • Himself, "The Ratings Game--Miss Piggy's Hollywood, The Jim Henson Hour, NBC, 1989
  • Stan, "Fraternity," Day by Day, NBC, 1989
  • Norm Peterson, "The Story of Joe," Wings, NBC, 1990
  • Guest, Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, 1990, 1991, 1993
  • Mr. Crosswhite, "The Reluctant Vampire," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's "Tales from the Crypt"), HBO, 1991
  • Himself and Bob Swerski, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "Saturday Night," Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, multiple appearances between 1991 and 2003
  • Himself, "The Trip: Part 1," Seinfeld, NBC, 1992
  • Stan Mason, "The Stan Who Came to Dinner," Roc, Fox, 1992
  • Cappuccino man, "The Waiting Game," The Building, CBS, 1993
  • Himself, "Da Game," Bob, CBS, 1993
  • Himself, "It Happened in Hollywood," Birds of a Feather, BBC, 1993
  • (Uncredited) Guest, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1993
  • Guest, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 1993
  • Himself, "Hank's Night in the Sun," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1994
  • Himself, "A Hippo Never Forgets," The Martin Short Show, NBC, 1994
  • Voice of Norm Peterson, "Fear of Flying," The Simpsons (animated),Fox, 1994
  • Guest, The Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show), CBS, 1995
  • Dan Donaldson, "The High and the Mighty," Spin City (also known asSpin), ABC, 1996
  • Himself, "Day 1346: Friendship," Good Company (also known as The Cube), CBS, 1996
  • Himself, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, ABC, multiple appearances, 1997
  • Guest, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1997, 2004
  • Guest, TFI Friday, Channel 4 (England), 1999
  • Carl Gradowski, "The Kid's Alright," Madigan Men, ABC, 2000
  • Carl Gradowski, "Meet the Wolfes," Madigan Men, ABC, 2000
  • Carl Gradowski, "The Strike," Madigan Men, ABC, 2000
  • Carl Gradowski, "Three Guys, a Girl and a Conversation Nook," MadiganMen, ABC, 2000
  • Cheers: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television,2000
  • Himself, "Chinese New Year's Day," TV Funhouse, Comedy Central, 2001
  • "Comedians Special," Weakest Link, NBC, 2001
  • Guest, Primetime Glick, Comedy Central, 2001
  • Frank, "V-Day," Becker, CBS, 2002
  • Norm Peterson, "Cheerful Goodbyes," Frasier, NBC, 2002
  • Himself, JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (also known as The Jamie Kennedy Experiment and JKX), The WB, 2002
  • Boss, "The Simple Life," George Lopez, ABC, 2004
  • Boss, "Trouble in Paradise," George Lopez, ABC, 2004
  • Himself, "Chicago Tour," Dweezil and Lisa, Food Network, 2004
  • Monty Dix, "Not So Grand Parents," Rock Me Baby, UPN, 2004
  • Guest, The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2004
  • Himself, Lingo, Game Show Network, 2005
  • Himself, Situation: Comedy, Bravo, multiple episodes in 2005
  • Appeared as himself, "Cheers," ET in TV Land, TV Land; as a celebrity guest, in Balderdash, PAX TV; in The Edge, Fox; and in TV Tales, E! Entertainment Television.
  • Pilots
  • Toonces, the Cat Who Could Drive a Car (also known as Toonces and Friends), NBC, 1992
  • Tug Clarke, Modern Men (also known as The Evolution of Man), The WB, c. 2006
  • Appeared in Nothing but Comedy, NBC.
  • Other
  • Journey's End, 1983
  • Television Director
  • Episodic
  • "Airport V," Cheers, NBC, 1988
  • Film Appearances
  • Hotel engineer, My Bodyguard, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980
  • Shopkeeper, The Gift of the Magi, 1980
  • Student in 1972, Somewhere in Time, Universal, 1980
  • Injured man, Jekyll and Hyde ... Together Again, Paramount, 1982
  • (Uncredited) Ticket agent, Airplane II: The Sequel (also known asFlying High II and Flying High II: The Sequel), Paramount, 1982
  • Charlie Prince, Dreamscape, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
  • Fat Sam, Fletch, Universal, 1984
  • Jake, No Small Affair, Columbia, 1984
  • Marty Morrison, Thief of Hearts, Paramount, 1984
  • The Woman in Red, Orion, 1984
  • Buster, Gung Ho (also known as Working Class Man), Paramount, 1986
  • Harold Gorton, House (also known as House: Ding Dong, You're Dead), New World, 1986
  • Chet Butler, Plain Clothes (also known as Glory Day), Paramount, 1988
  • Mr. Witten, Never Say Die, Kings Road International, 1988
  • Stomach, Cranium Command, 1989
  • Bunny Baxter, Guilty by Suspicion (also known as La liste noire), Warner Bros., 1991
  • Dr. Jack Erheart, Masters of Menace, RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, 1991
  • Harry Finley, Forever Young, Warner Bros., 1992
  • Lumber yard clerk, The Little Rascals, Universal, 1994
  • Chet Bronski (Chief Running Horse), The Man of the House (also known as Man 2 Man and Pals Forever), Buena Vista, 1995
  • Mr. Keller, Space Truckers (also known as Star Truckers), Goldcrest Films International, 1996
  • Therapist, The Lovemaster, 1996
  • Martin Barnfield, Spice World (also known as Five, FiveGirls, It's Been a Hard 15 Minutes, Spice Girls, Spice Girls: The Movie, Spice Up Your Life!, and Spiceworld), Columbia, 1997
  • Abbey Archer, Anarchy TV, The Asylum, 1998
  • Ivan Bloat, Rupert's Land, 1998
  • (Uncredited) Police officer, Dennis the Menace Strikes Again, Warner Bros., 1998
  • Joey, Outside Providence, Miramax, 1999
  • Frankie, Wild about Harry, Winchester Films, 2000
  • Pitching coach, Garage: A Rock Sage, Planet Art, 2000
  • Actor, Prairie Dogs (short film), Prairie Dog Productions, 2001
  • First mate Collins, Lakeboat, Oregon Trail Films/Cowboy Booking International, 2001
  • General Edison "Pete" Gerberding, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Magnolia Pictures, 2002
  • Bill Uttley, My Dinner with Jimi, Rhino Entertainment, 2003
  • Duke, King of the Ants, Anthill Productions/The Asylum, 2003
  • Coach Thompson, Kids in America, Kids in America/Act One Script Clearance, 2004
  • Himself, America Speaks Out (documentary), Barking Harley Productions, 2004
  • Himself, Life Coach: The Movie, Broad Appeal Productions, 2005
  • Harold, Saturday Morning, Selman Productions, 2005
  • Pawn shop man, Edmond, First Independent Pictures, 2005
  • Film Work
  • Coproducer, King of the Ants, Anthill Productions/The Asylum, 2003
  • Stage Appearances
  • Super Sunday, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, 1988
  • Tom Jones, Williamstown Theatre Festival, 1988
  • Pseudolus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (musical), Williamstown Theatre Festival, 1990
  • Ken Finnerty, Wild Men! (musical; also known as Wildman), Chicago, IL production, and Westside Theatre Downstairs, New York City, 1993
  • Yvan, Art, Wyndham Theatre, London, then Royale Theatre, New YorkCity, both 1998
  • An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, Primary Stages, New York City, 2000
  • "Babes in Arms," Ovations! Concert Celebrations of Great American Musicals, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL, 2000
  • Don, Rounding Third, Northlight Theatre, Skokie, IL, 2002, then produced as a staged reading, New York City, 2002
  • Appeared in Bleacher Bums, Chicago, IL production; Indians,Los Angeles production; and Lakeboat.
  • RECORDINGS
  • Videos
  • Himself, The Making of "House," Anchor Bay Entertainment, 1986
  • Father in "Black or White" music video, Dangerous: The Short Films(also known as Michael Jackson--Dangerous: The Short Films), 1993
  • Music Videos
  • Ray Parker, Jr., "Ghostbusters," 1984
  • Michael Jackson, "Black or White," 1991
  • Soul Asylum, "Black Gold," 1992
  • MxPx, "Responsibility," 2000
  • Audiobooks
  • Gary Paulsen, Soldier's Heart, Listening Library, 1999

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Patinkin, Sheldon, The Second City: Backstage at the World's GreatestComedy Theatre, Sourcebooks, 2000
    Periodicals
    • Entertainment Weekly, March 10, 1995, p. 28
    • Radio Times, January 20, 1990, p. 12
    Electronic
    • Theatremania.com, http://www.theatermania.com, May 16, 2000