The Barstool Is Empty, But the Seat Is Sacred
A tribute to George Wendt, who gave us Norm — and something even deeper.
George Wendt didn’t just play Norm. He was Norm — the man who made walking into a room feel like coming home.
He sat on a barstool and taught us that being known, being welcomed, was a kind of salvation. And in doing so, he became part of the American story.
On May 20, 2025, George Wendt passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 76. The date — 32 years after the Cheers finale — feels like more than coincidence. It feels like the last call of an era. And like every great last call, it invites one final toast.
This poster is for the people who’ve ever had a place where everybody knows their name. It’s for Chicago, for “Da Bears” faithful, for night-shift workers and neighborhood regulars. For the quiet legends who show up, sit down, and carry the soul of a place in their presence.
George Wendt gave us more than a laugh. He gave us Norm, a character who stood for loyalty, routine, warmth, and the dignity of being known, not for status or style, but for simply being there.
So tonight, raise a glass —
To Norm.
To George.
To the sacred seat, and the man who filled it with heart.
Did Norm mean something to you? Drop a memory, quote, or simple “cheers” in the comments. Let’s remember him together.
More tributes at ForgeTheTruth.com