George Wendt, known as Norm Peterson in the long-time NBC comedy Cheers, has died at age 76 today, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.After 11 seasons, fans remember him as not only a main character which brought Cheers its comedy, but as the fun-loving beer-drinking man who never wanted to share his stool at the bar. Wendt died peacefully at home in his sleep, citing natural causes, which was confirmed by his family early this morning.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a rep for Wendt said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.” As stated by Wendt’s family via The Hollywood Reporter.

Raised on the south side of Chicago, Wendt got his start in the 1970s with Second City, which was a comedy theater in Wendt’s hometown. Following this, he made an appearance on Saturday Night Live as his character Bob Swerski, a superfan that gathered at Coach Mike Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago to watch “Da Bears.” Via The Hollywood Reporter, Wendt began acting in movies during the 80s and early 90s, such as Dreamscape, Gung Ho, and Forever Young, which released in 1992.

Most notably, Wendt also played Macaulay Culkin’s grumpy father who dislikes the loud music of his son, in Michael Jackson’s 1991 music video “Black or White”.

In Wendt’s run on Cheers from its 1982-1983 run, fans of the show remember his dedication to his role as Norm Peterson, citing on The Hollywood Reporter , that Wendt never missed an episode in the series, which eventually would gain him an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor. After Cheers  ended, NBC was in talks with a spinoff starring Wendt and Ratzenberger as bar buddies, but the show was cancelled before production. Instead, in 1995, Wendt joined CBS in his own show entitled The George Wendt Show, which lasted six episodes.

The Hollywood Reporter lists Wendt’s surviving family as his nephew, actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses 2, The Angry Birds Movie 2); his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett (Alien Avengers II, Mr. Mom) and his children Hilary, Joe, and Daniel, as well as his stepchildren  Joshua and Andrew.