Per Wendt’s family, the actor passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday morning. Hours later, Variety received statements from Danson, John Ratzenberger and Rhea Perlman about their late co-star. Danson, who played Sam Malone, owner of the Cheers bar and its main bartender, had this to say about Wendt:

Ted Danson pays tribute to “Cheers” co-star George Wendt following Wendt’s death at 76. Plus, a dietitian shares 9 fruits high in calcium, and a psychotherapist outlines the one easy way to tell if someone is gaslighting you. Calcium is usually ...

Wendt was married to wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, since July 1978, according to THR. "She was the unseen, offscreen voice of Norm’s wife, Vera, on Cheers," the sitereported. Wendt had children Hilary, Joe and Daniel; and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew.