Cheers alum George Wendt looked like a shadow of the man we recognize during a rare outing in Los Angeles this week.
The 76-year-old was spotted in Sherman Oaks on Monday while visiting a local medical dialysis facility, according to exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com.
The television icon made a name for himself as the lovable, fun-loving barfly Norm in the hit ’80s sitcom and is known for his jovial attitude both on and off screen.
But the ailing actor appeared much more frail and tired during the health visit, where he was helped into a wheelchair from a car.
Dressed in a flannel shirt, shorts and trainers, he was then wheeled into the clinic by an attendant and received treatment for three hours before emerging in a wheelchair with a pillow around him.
He was later picked up by his wife of 45 years, actress Bernadette Birkett, 78, who helped him into the car.
Cheers alum George Wendt was busted on Monday after visiting a health clinic in LA
The television star, 76, was seen hugging two pillows as he was pushed out of a dialysis clinic in Sherman Oaks in a wheelchair, according to exclusive photos from DailyMail.com
The details of Wendt’s recent or current health issues remain private, but it was known that the actor was hospitalized with chest pains in 2012 with health issues.
Wendt, who was due to appear in a local production in Chicago at the time, is said to have later undergone coronary artery bypass surgery after the doctor found a narrowed artery.
The multiple Emmy Award nominee has continued to keep a low profile in recent years, making only a handful of minor on-screen appearances, including his appearance as a contestant on The Masked Singer last year.
More recently, he made a surprise appearance on stage when he reunited with the Cheers cast at the Emmy Awards in January this year.
Wendt was joined by former co-stars Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger around a recreated set of the show’s iconic bar.
Cast members Shelley Long and Woody Harrelson did not attend the reunion.
Wendt’s wife of 45 years, actress Bernadette Birkett, 78, was later seen picking her husband up from the facility and helping him into the car
Wendt is best known for his role as the lovable barfly Norm on the hit ’80s sitcom, but looked noticeably weak and tired during Monday’s outing
But before that, the reclusive actor was last pictured in September 2022, when he was spotted stepping out in his LA neighborhood.
His iconic sitcom Cheers ran for eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993, although the show was nearly canceled after its first season due to low ratings.
However, it spent eight of its remaining ten seasons in the top 10, becoming the most watched show in season 9.
It earned 28 Emmy Awards from 117 nominations, earning Outstanding Comedy Series nominations for all 11 seasons and winning four.
Wendt impressively appeared in every episode until it went off the air in May 1993.
Hailing from Chicago, before taking up acting, Wendt was expelled from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana for poor grades before moving into show business, where his first job was sweeping a theater floor.
The TV icon made a name for himself as the sweet, fun-loving barfly Norm on the NBC sitcom Cheers
Until this week, Wendt had not been seen in public since his surprise reunion with the Cheers cast at the Emmy Awards in January of this year.
Wendt has been married to Bernadette Birkett – who voiced the mysterious Vera in Cheers – since 1978.
Guest roles on Taxi and M*A*S*H were followed by his big break on Cheers, and two years after that ended he launched a self-titled sitcom on CBS, but it was canceled after eight episodes.
In addition to his success on the hit sitcom, the popular entertainer has appeared on shows like Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Columbo and Wings.
He also had a recurring sketch on SNL’s Bill Swerski’s Superfans, which was dedicated to Chicago sports fans.
Wendt has been married to Bernadette Birkett – who played the voice of the mysterious Vera in Cheers – since 1978 and they have a daughter and two sons. The couple lives in Los Angeles.