R.I.P. veteran character actor Michael Hagerty
Chicago native Hagerty appeared in more than a hundred shows and movies, including Friends, Wayne's World, and more

Michael Hagerty has died. A veteran character actor and sketch comedian, known for his thick Chicago accent, thick Chicago mustache, and talent for bringing Midwestern charm to any number of blue-collar roles, Hagerty appeared on many of the most popular TV comedies of the last four decades—Cheers, Friends, Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and more. Per Variety, Hagerty’s death was announced on social media today by Bridgett Everett, whose HBO series Somebody Somewhere was Hagerty’s last major role. He was 67.
Born in Chicago, Hagerty got his start taking acting classes at the University of Illinois before an invitation from Jim Belushi brought him into the orbit of Second City. From there, Hagerty broke into TV and film, appearing early on in the films of his friend John Candy (most notably a small part in Brewster’s Millions) while also becoming a regular guest star in comedic TV, popping up any time a script called for a certain kind of burly Chicago energy—even in the distant future of space, courtesy of two different appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation.