What Do George Wendt's Rarely-Seen Three Kids Look Like? – Pics of His Pretty Blond Daughter and Sons

George Wendt's children generally prefer staying out of the spotlight, but as they mourn the death of the late star, we take a look at their transformation from childhood to adulthood. We also get to meet another famous relative of the comedian.

On May 20, 2025, George Wendt, well-known for his role as Norm Peterson on "Cheers," passed away that morning at age 76. The actor is survived by three adult children who will carry on his legacy. Here's what we know about George's death and his family.

News of His Passing

George's death was confirmed by his publicist, Melissa Nathan. In a statement, she said, "Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy Cheers, [sic] has passed away."

The statement further noted that his family had confirmed the news, stating he had "died peacefully in his sleep while at home." It continued, "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever."

The statement concluded with a request for privacy for the family during this difficult time. While working on "Cheers," George had the good fortune of meeting the love of his life and the future mother of his children. Here's a glimpse into the life they built together.

Marrying the Love of His Life and Welcoming Kids

George spent six years performing at Second City, a small cabaret theater in Chicago that eventually became a major force in comedy. It was after this period that he met his wife. The late actor met Bernadette Birkett when she made a cameo on "Cheers."

She later voiced Vera, George's character's on-screen wife, on the sitcom. Bernadette, born July 8, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, is an actress recognized for her roles in films like "Mr. Mom" (1983), "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985), and "Heartbreakers" (2001).

She and George tied the knot in July 1978 before welcoming three children: Hilary (born in 1985), Joe (1987), and Daniel Wendt (1990).

Bernadette had previously been married and brought two children into their union: Joshua (1968) and Andrew (1970).

In a 1985 interview, before the birth of their children, George shared a touching way he supported and showed his family love. He explained that he enjoyed cooking for Bernadette, Joshua, and Andrew. The actor said he cooked, "Just the firehouse, he-man stuff, you know, barbecued ribs, chile, stuff like that."

In 1998, during an appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," George introduced his extended family, including his wife, mother, siblings, children, and more, to the audience. The family showcased their shared comedic flair in a skit.

After being introduced, they gathered around a table to enjoy turkey on set, with a separate table for the children. Among them was actor Jason Sudeikis, who joined for the meal and interview. Jason is George's nephew, as his mother is Kathryn Sudeikis, the later actor's sister.

George's Bond with Jason

This connection between George and Jason was more than just familial, it also offered inspiration. During a previous interview, Jason spoke about his famous uncle. The "Saturday Night Live" star told a magazine in July 2011, "He's always been very encouraging, but there was no 'Tuesdays With Morrie' kind of relationship between him and I."

He added, "He was just a good example that being an actor was a viable option. Here's a guy from the Midwest, in my family, who took the road less traveled and it worked out for him."

There were no deep lessons in the park or formal talks about acting. Instead, George stood as living proof that an acting career was a real possibility. In a June 2024 interview on the Still Here Hollywood podcast with Steve Kmetko, George laughed when asked if he had ever given Jason advice about starting out in Hollywood.

After getting the question countless times, George recounted Jason's humorous response. He recalled his nephew saying, "'Yeah, he told me just get on the best show on television, and one of the greatest shows of all time, and just pretty much take it from there. So I did.'"

In his 2011 interview, Jason had offered a similarly witty response when asked the same question. He said, "The advice he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is 'Get on one of the best sitcoms of all time and then ride it out.'"

Speaking proudly about his nephew on the podcast interview, George called him "Such a great kid." He continued, "Very proud. Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he's solid. Have you read profiles and stuff? I mean he is such a mensch, so smart, so thoughtful."

An Accidental Acting Career

On the podcast, George also reflected openly on his unexpected journey into acting. He admitted that he never set out to be an actor, he just knew he didn't want to do something he hated.

After ruling out traditional career paths, he found himself at Second City, performing for fun. From there, commercial opportunities arose, and he eventually had to join the Screen Actors Guild.

"I guess I'm an actor," he remembered thinking, after also joining the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) for another gig. His career took shape in reverse, with success arriving not through planning, but through momentum.

George earned six consecutive Emmy Award nominations for his iconic role on "Cheers." While his professional achievements were impressive, he clearly valued family just as much, something he passed on to his daughter, Hilary.

Hilary Honors Her Family

Hilary has consistently honored her family during special moments, showing how she hold them dear to her heart.

For her parents' 38th wedding anniversary, she posted a photo on Instagram showing them smiling, walking, and holding hands, captioned, "Happy 38th anniversary to my cute parents!"

That same month in 2019, she celebrated their enduring love with another image of them holding hands, writing, "♡ 41 YEARS! ♡."

When they marked 46 years of marriage, she shared a picture from their wedding day.

In April 2025, Bernadette returned the sentiment.

On Facebook, she shared a playful photo of Hilary sticking out her tongue and wrote, "Happy Birthday to our amazing, beautiful, kind, compassionate, generous, talented, and funny daughter, Hilary!! We are very blessed!!"

The post also included an image of baby Hilary laying on her proud father's chest and a black-and-white group photo that included her mother and siblings.

In the group picture, the men all wore suits while the women also sported formal wear.

In January 2025, Bernadette posted another Facebook photo showing herself with George, some of their children, and grandchildren.

The group posed outdoors for a selfie. She captioned it, "Yay!! Happy Birthday Colleen Healy Fitzgerald! We love you!!"

Hilary also celebrated her siblings' milestones on social media.

For Daniel's birthday, she uploaded baby pictures and videos, showing moments of her playing with him, cradling him, eating together, and being held by their father.

Sadly, there will be no more wedding anniversaries to celebrate, but George Wendt's memory will remain in the hearts, minds, and memories of those who loved him. May the Wendts find strength in each other during this difficult time.