Cheers' Norm's Elusive Wife Vera Revealed

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Norm Peterson, one of the most beloved characters on the sitcom Cheers, was often seen talking about his wife Vera, though she was never actually shown on screen during the show's 11-season run. Vera was played by actress Bernadette Birkett, who met Norm actor George Wendt through Chicago's Second City improv troupe in the 1970s. Birkett and Wendt married in 1978 and had three children together.

Why it matters

Vera was a running gag on Cheers, with Norm frequently making jokes about his wife, though she remained an unseen character throughout the show's entire run. Birkett's low-profile since the show ended has kept the real-life Vera a mystery to many fans.

The details

Though Vera was a central part of Norm's character on Cheers, she only appeared on screen twice during the show's 11 seasons, and her face was never visible. The role of Vera was played by Bernadette Birkett, who met Norm actor George Wendt through their work with Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe in the mid-1970s. Birkett and Wendt married in 1978 and had three children together.

• Bernadette Birkett and George Wendt met through Chicago's Second City improv troupe in the mid-1970s.
• Birkett and Wendt married in 1978.
• Cheers aired for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993.