Illness forces George Wendt out of play

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CHICAGO, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- George Wendt, the veteran actor who played Norm on "Cheers," is expected to recover completely after being hospitalized with chest pains, a spokesman says.

His illness has forced Wendt to drop out of a production of "The Odd Couple" that was scheduled to begin previews Nov. 9, the Chicago Tribune reported. He will be replaced as Oscar by Mark Grapey, a veteran of the recent New York production with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, who had been playing Murray, Timothy Evans, director of the Northlight Theater in Skokie, said.

Evans said Wendt is "expected to make a full recovery." He was hospitalized Sunday evening.

Tim Kazurinsky, like Wendt a veteran of Chicago's famed Second City troupe, plays Felix in the production.