“It’s a dog-eat-dog world, Sammy, and I’m wearing Milk-Bone underwear.”

George Wendt, best known as Norm, the master of the hangdog lament with elbows propped on the Cheers bar rail, passed away this morning at the age of 76. He earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for the role, one of the classic comedy’s anchors from its first episode to its last. It was a significant step up from his first job in show business, sweeping the floors at Second City, where he eventually became a member of the improvisational repertory company.

Wendt joined Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast last summer and reminisced about trying out for the iconic sitcom. He almost didn’t get to audition since he was already committed to another comedy over at CBS when the opportunity came knocking.

“They want you to come in anyway,” his agents told him.