section_path: Career/1982–1993: Breakthrough with Cheers
section_name: 1982–1993: Breakthrough with Cheers
paragraph_text: 1982–1993: Breakthrough with Cheers
  
  From 1982 to 1993, Wendt appeared as Norm Peterson in all 275 episodes of Cheers. For his work on Cheers, Wendt earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also played the role in the short-lived spin-off The Tortellis, in an episode of Wings, and in an episode of another Cheers spin-off, Frasier. Wendt, playing the character Norm, made a prominent entrance to the Cheers bar in nearly every episode, being greeted by a cheer of "Norm!" and making a wisecrack as he walked to his barstool. This regular bit of business was a highlight of the show. Disparaging references to the character's wife, Vera, and the wretched state of his life were other running gags. Host International licensed the characters of Norm and Cliff to create animatronic robot likenesses in their airport bars. The actors sued for infringement of their publicity rights in Wendt v. Host International. The case was initially dismissed as the likeness to the actors was not strong but this was reversed on appeal.
  
  Wendt's first appearance on Saturday Night Live was in a season 11 (1985–1986) episode where he shared hosting duties with director Francis Ford Coppola. His film appearances during this time included Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Dreamscape (1984), No Small Affair (1984), Fletch (1985), House (1985), and Gung Ho (1986). In 1988, he played the part of "Witten" in the New Zealand-made film, Never Say Die. In the early 1990s, Wendt made cameo appearances on several episodes of SNL as Bob Swerski, one of the Chicago Superfans (along with cast members Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Robert Smigel, and one-time host Joe Mantegna). In 1989, Wendt appeared as the eponymous protagonist in a BBC TV dramatization of Ivan Goncharov 's novel Oblomov. He also appeared twice on the original British edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway? In 1991, Wendt played the father in Michael Jackson 's music video " Black or White ". He had roles opposite Robert De Niro in 1991's Guilty by Suspicion and with Mel Gibson in 1992's Forever Young.
  
  From 1982 to 1993, Wendt appeared as Norm Peterson in all 275 episodes of Cheers. For his work on Cheers, Wendt earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also played the role in the short-lived spin-off The Tortellis, in an episode of Wings, and in an episode of another Cheers spin-off, Frasier. Wendt, playing the character Norm, made a prominent entrance to the Cheers bar in nearly every episode, being greeted by a cheer of "Norm!" and making a wisecrack as he walked to his barstool. This regular bit of business was a highlight of the show. Disparaging references to the character's wife, Vera, and the wretched state of his life were other running gags. Host International licensed the characters of Norm and Cliff to create animatronic robot likenesses in their airport bars. The actors sued for infringement of their publicity rights in Wendt v. Host International. The case was initially dismissed as the likeness to the actors was not strong but this was reversed on appeal.
  
  Wendt's first appearance on Saturday Night Live was in a season 11 (1985–1986) episode where he shared hosting duties with director Francis Ford Coppola. His film appearances during this time included Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Dreamscape (1984), No Small Affair (1984), Fletch (1985), House (1985), and Gung Ho (1986). In 1988, he played the part of "Witten" in the New Zealand-made film, Never Say Die. In the early 1990s, Wendt made cameo appearances on several episodes of SNL as Bob Swerski, one of the Chicago Superfans (along with cast members Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Robert Smigel, and one-time host Joe Mantegna). In 1989, Wendt appeared as the eponymous protagonist in a BBC TV dramatization of Ivan Goncharov 's novel Oblomov. He also appeared twice on the original British edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway? In 1991, Wendt played the father in Michael Jackson 's music video " Black or White ". He had roles opposite Robert De Niro in 1991's Guilty by Suspicion and with Mel Gibson in 1992's Forever Young.