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

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