Part of Beverly’s Bell Avenue renamed ‘George Wendt Way’ in honor of renowned Chicago sitcom star

CHICAGO (WGN) — At 92nd and Bell on Chicago’s South Side, we found the intersection where everyone knows his name, and the honorary George Wendt Way made its debut.

Sunday served as the day when locals in the Beverly neighborhood gathered with city officials to officially dedicate the stretch of Bell Avenue between 91st Street and 92nd Place as “George Wendt Way.”

Wendt, who grew up in the Beverly neighborhood, died back in May.

Wendt’s brother, Paul, and sisters, Marti Wendt and Kathy Wendt-Sudeikis, were among numerous family members in attendance at the ceremony on Sunday.

“We love this community, absolutely love it. Couldn’t be happier,” Marti Wendt said.

“George has become loved by the whole world, and we couldn’t be prouder,” said Erin Muldoon Stetson, Wendt’s niece.

Wendt became a huge name during his run on the sitcom, ‘Cheers.’

His lovable character, Norm, drew in part from his childhood spent in the South Side’s Beverly neighborhood, while his training at Second City in Old Town, provided him the opportunity to meet his wife, Bernadette Birkett.

“The love and support for my husband and his legacy is just … amazing to me,” Birkett said. “Because he was a wonderful person. He was so generous and just so funny.”

And now, nearly five months to the day of his passing, a tribute stands to the man who found fame in Hollywood, but never forgot his hometown and the street that raised him—the George Wendt Way, some might say.

“Seeing the name on the street here is a reminder for us to follow George’s example of bringing love and laughter into the world,” said Bishop Larry Sullivan, Wendt’s former pastor at Christ the King Catholic Church.