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New York Post
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How Jason Sudeikis learned of his uncle George Wendt's death
Jason Sudeikis was hard at work when he learned his uncle George Wendt died at age 76 last month. Brett Goldstein appeared on Wendt's former 'Cheers' co-star Ted Danson's 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' podcast Tuesday and revealed he was with Sudeikis, 49, in the 'Ted Lasso' Season 4 writers room when the tragic news came out. 10 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attend 'I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast Of George Wendt' in 2017. Getty Images 'And Jason and the writers sat and watched like compilations of the best of Norm and told stories,' Goldstein, 44, shared. Wendt, who was best known for playing Norm Peterson in all 11 seasons of 'Cheers,' died from cardiac arrest on May 20. 10 Ted Danson talking about George Wendt's death. 10 Ted Danson and Brett Goldstein. 'I'm very sorry for your loss,' Goldstein told Danson, who played Sam Malone in the sitcom. 'I know from Jason there were wonderful stories, but he was also individually so lovely to all of us at 'Ted Lasso,' cause he came to the premiere and you'd get a thing saying, 'George wants to meet you.' And be like, 'What, George?' And you'd go over and he was so f—ing generous with all of us.' '[He was] so complimentary and lovely and you're just like, 'I can't believe I'm talking to him,'' Goldstein continued about Wendt. 'He was so very kind. And we saw him a few times over the years and he was nothing but lovely. I'm very sorry.' 10 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis at Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party in January 2024. WireImage 10 George Wendt, Sam Moser, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger during the Nick at Nite 2001 Upfront Presentation. Getty Images 10 George Wendt during an interview with Jay Leno in March 1995. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images The 'Ted Lasso' actor asked Danson how he's doing after the death of his former colleague, and Danson got choked up before he responded. 'Sorry. I think, I'm fine,' Danson replied. 'And I have a big old hole and I haven't started to process it. I feel totally complete with George, so I don't have any regrets. And we were able to, Woody [Harrelson] and I were able to sit down and have this great conversation with him early on with this podcast.' 10 George Wendt and his nephew Jason Sudeikis in January 2024. FilmMagic 'Some of it's private, but I had just seen Bernadette recently,' Danson said about Wendt's wife, Bernadette Birkett. 'So anyway I was in the middle of working and I had to kind of squelch. Had a little cry and then had to like, move on. So I haven't really caught up with it.' Danson admitted to Goldstein that he 'may tear up' if they talk about Wendt, as he called the late star 'an amazing man.' 'What a funny, unbelievable actor,' Danson said. 'I could sit there and watch and laugh and will continue to for a very long time. Celebratory-ness is called for as well. Even though I will miss him, and I can't imagine what it's like for Bernadette and his kids, that I can't touch in my imagination.' 10 Kelsey Grammer and George Wendt in 'Cheers.' NBCUniversal via Getty Images Sudeikis, who was always close with Wendt, broke his silence on his uncle's death two weeks later at the Big Slick 2025 kickoff in Kansas City. 'He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,' the 'Saturday Night Live' alum said during a news conference as he remembered Wendt, who is the brother of Sudeikis' mom, Kathy. 10 Jason Sudeikis, George Wendt seen in Los Angeles in Feb. 2014. GC Images 'He was an incredible influence to me,' Sudeikis continued, 'both as someone that plays the trail being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have.' 'But yeah, we miss him greatly and I love him dearly,' the actor added. For the charity event, Sudeikis honored Wendt by wearing a jersey with his uncle's last name on the back and the number 76 (Wendt's age at death) at the celebrity softball game. 10 Jason Sudeikis honors George Wendt at the 2025 Big Slick Celebrity Softball Game. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock Danson, for his part, paid tribute to Wendt in a statement after his death. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' Danson's rep told The Post. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.'
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jason Sudeikis recalled his fondest memory with uncle George Wendt before ‘Cheers' star's death
It was almost game over for Jason Sudeikis on Laurel Canyon. Years before his uncle George Wendt's death at age 76 on Tuesday, the actor, 49, recalled a childhood memory that involved a fast, new BMW — and the narrow roads of Los Angeles. 'We all went out to California to visit and George had just gotten a new car …,' Sudeikis told The A.V. Club on the red carpet of the 'Second City's Roast Of George Wendt' in 2017. 'It was a badass BMW with, like, manual drive, which I'd never seen before, you know, I was pretty young.' 6 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attend 'I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast Of George Wendt' on September 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images The Kansas City, Missouri native recounted, 'He took me and my dad for a ride,' before Wendt burst out laughing. 'My dad sat shotgun. I was in the back all by myself. This is not when you needed, you know, mandatory seatbelts,' Sudeikis continued. 'He drove us through Laurel Canyon.' While the 'Cheers' star had driven on the windy road 'hundreds and thousands of times,' the 'Horrible Bosses' actor and his dad, Dan Sudeikis, weren't privy to the route. In fact, the father-son duo were scared for their lives. 6 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis. GC Images 'He had my dad holding onto (the car) like nothing you've ever seen,' Sudeikis confessed with a chuckle. 'And I'm just, like, sliding around the background just because the seats were brand new.' 'I hold that memory very fondly,' the 'We're the Millers' actor sweetly stated. A few years prior, in 2011, Sudeikis got candid about his relationship with Wendt while speaking with Playboy. 6 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis on stage. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 'He's always been very encouraging, but there was no 'Tuesdays With Morrie' kind of relationship between him and I,' he explained. 'He didn't take me to the park to explain comic timing. There was nothing like that. He was just a good example that being an actor was a viable option.' Sudeikis and Wendt — who is the brother of Sudeikis' mom, Kathy — have always had a close bond, with the comedian gushing over the 'Ted Lasso' actor's success in the industry in 2024. 'It was Letterman or Conan. He said, 'Did your uncle George have any advice for you?'' Wendt shared on the 'Still Here Hollywood' podcast. 'And Jason goes — he's so sharp — he goes, 'Yeah he told me just get on the best show on television and one of the greatest shows of all time and just pretty much take it from there.' And he goes, 'So I did.'' 6 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis. Lisa O'Connor/AFF-USA/Shutterstock 'He got 'SNL,'' he added. 'He's such a great kid,' Wendt continued. 'Very proud. Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he's solid. Have you read profiles and stuff? I mean he is such a mesh, so smart, so thoughtful. I mean, it all comes out in the show. Right?' Wendt's family rep confirmed his death to The Post on Tuesday, sharing that he 'died peacefully in his sleep while at home' that morning. 6 Shelley Long, Ted Danson and George Wendt on 'Cheers.' ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' their statement continued. 'He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.' At this time, no official cause of death has been revealed. Wendt starred on the iconic sitcom 'Cheers' for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993 and went on to earn six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm Peterson. 6 John Ratzenberger and George Wendt on 'Cheers.' News Licensing / MEGA After news of his death broke, some of his fellow costars shared their condolences. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' a rep for Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone, told The Post. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.' Rhea Perlman, who starred as cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli on the series, also took a moment to remember her late cast member. 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him,' Perlman told The Post. 'As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn't hurt. What a guy! I'll miss him more than words can say.'
