George Wendt, who bellied up to the bar to portray the beer-quaffing everyman Norm Peterson for all 11 seasons of the fabled NBC sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76.

Wendt famously portrayed Norman Peterson, better known as just “Norm,” on the iconic ’80s/’90s sitcom Cheers.

“George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met,” said “Cheers” co-star Rhea Perlman, who played waitress Carla Tortelli in the series, in a statement.