Norm was the everyman, literally always at the ready with a joke. And nowhere was that more evident than when he walked into the bar. As Cheers’ most frequent and dedicated customer, Norm was always greeted by other customers and workers with a buoyant “Norm!” when he entered, providing a monosyllabic setup for the joke to follow.

George Wendt is one of those names from the era of the 80s American sitcoms that instantly brings a smile when you hear it. But today, that smile is tinged with sadness.