Latest news with #Sudeikis
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jason Sudeikis remembers 'incredible influence' of uncle George Wendt: 'An amazing guy'
Jason Sudeikis remembers 'incredible influence' of uncle George Wendt: 'An amazing guy' Show Caption Hide Caption 'Cheers' actor George Wendt dies at 76 George Wendt earned six consecutive best supporting actor Emmy nominations playing Norm Peterson on NBC's "Cheers." To the world, George Wendt will always be Norm. But for Jason Sudeikis, he was just Uncle George. Less than two weeks after the beloved "Cheers" star's death, Sudeikis opened up about the impact of his late uncle during an appearance at Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, an annual fundraising event for Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 30. Wendt died "peacefully in his sleep" on May 20 at the age of 76. "He was an amazing guy," Sudeikis, 49, said. "With regard to my Uncle George, I mean, there's that old saying of, 'Don't meet your heroes,' usually because 'they let you down,' I assume, is the back half of that statement. But he's not one of those people." 'A well-loved friend': George Wendt, beloved bar regular Norm on 'Cheers,' dies at 76 Wendt was best known for his portrayal of the beer-quaffing barfly Norm Peterson on the classic NBC sitcom, and Sudeikis reflected that the actor's everyman charm wasn't limited to the TV screen. "He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films," the Kansas-bred actor said. "He was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that blazed the trail being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have, if you really care about it." George Wendt remembered: 'Cheers' stars Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger and Rhea Perlman pay tribute Aside from Wendt's commitment to the craft, Sudeikis added that the Illinois-born actor's humility was just as much of an inspiration. "He also always kept connected to his family, to his roots, both in Chicago, of course, where he's from, but then also the time he spent here," said Sudeikis, referring to Kansas City, where Wendt attended college. "We miss him greatly, and I love him dearly." Contributing: Bryan Alexander and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Sudeikis Recalls the 'Incredible Influence' Late Uncle George Wendt Had on Him in Tribute After the 'Cheers' Actor's Death
Jason Sudeikis is paying tribute to his late uncle, George Wendt. The Ted Lasso actor, 49, remembered Wendt — his mother Kathy's brother — and what the late Cheers star meant to him during the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend on Friday, May 30. While kicking off the event — a fundraiser for Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. — with a star-studded panel, Sudeikis was asked about the late actor, who was also a Big Slick mainstay. "With regard to my uncle George, I mean, there's that old saying of like, 'Don't meet your heroes,' usually 'cause 'they let you down,' I assume, is the back half of that statement. But he's not one of those people," Sudeikis said during the panel, which was captured by NBC affiliate KSHB 41. "He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,' the star continued on Wendt. 'He was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that plays the trail, being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have, if you really care about it." Wendt also showed Sudeikis that it's "a career where you could meet the love of your life, like his wife, a.k.a. permanent girlfriend, Bernadette," the Saturday Night Live alum said, referring to the late actor's wife of nearly 50 years, Bernadette Birkett. "He also always kept connected to his family, to his roots, both in Chicago, of course, where he's from, but then also the time he spent here," Sudeikis continued, highlighting his uncle's time at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. "And to a bar called Mike's a whole bunch, where I think he logged maybe 18 credit hours," he then joked. "But it was all in preparation of a job that we all know him for, Cheers. All time well spent. But yeah, we miss him greatly, and I love him dearly." Several others on the celebrity panel, including Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet and Paul Rudd, also chimed in with kind words about Wendt. "It's going to be felt, his absence, this year, even though he's so a part of it, just as much as any of us," Rudd, 56, said. "He is a really really sweet guy. I loved him." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Wendt — who played Norm Peterson on Cheers for the show's entire 11-season run from 1982 to 1993 — died on the morning of Tuesday, May 20. He was 76. Wendt's publicist confirmed his death in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, "Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy Cheers, has passed away." "George's family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home," the statement continued. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever." "The family has requested privacy during this time," the statement concluded. During a 2024 episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Wendt told host Steve Kmetko he was "very proud" of Sudeikis. "Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he's solid," Wendt said at the time, also calling the comedian "so smart" and "so thoughtful." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Sudeikis shared his fondest memory of Wendt in a 2017 interview with The A.V. Club, recalling a white-knuckle drive in his uncle's BMW with his dad. "He took me and my dad for a ride. My dad sat shotgun, I was in the back all by myself," he remembered, noting that it was before wearing seatbelts were required by law. "He had my dad holding on ... and I'm just sliding around in the background just because the seats were brand new." Wendt is survived by his wife and their three children: Hilary, Joe and Daniel. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Sudeikis Recalls the 'Incredible Influence' Late Uncle George Wendt Had on Him in Tribute After the 'Cheers' Actor's Death
Jason Sudeikis is paying tribute to his late uncle, George Wendt. The Ted Lasso actor, 49, remembered Wendt — his mother Kathy's brother — and what the late Cheers star meant to him during the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend on Friday, May 30. While kicking off the event — a fundraiser for Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. — with a star-studded panel, Sudeikis was asked about the late actor, who was also a Big Slick mainstay. "With regard to my uncle George, I mean, there's that old saying of like, 'Don't meet your heroes,' usually 'cause 'they let you down,' I assume, is the back half of that statement. But he's not one of those people," Sudeikis said during the panel, which was captured by NBC affiliate KSHB 41. "He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,' the star continued on Wendt. 'He was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that plays the trail, being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have, if you really care about it." Wendt also showed Sudeikis that it's "a career where you could meet the love of your life, like his wife, a.k.a. permanent girlfriend, Bernadette," the Saturday Night Live alum said, referring to the late actor's wife of nearly 50 years, Bernadette Birkett. "He also always kept connected to his family, to his roots, both in Chicago, of course, where he's from, but then also the time he spent here," Sudeikis continued, highlighting his uncle's time at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. "And to a bar called Mike's a whole bunch, where I think he logged maybe 18 credit hours," he then joked. "But it was all in preparation of a job that we all know him for, Cheers. All time well spent. But yeah, we miss him greatly, and I love him dearly." Several others on the celebrity panel, including Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet and Paul Rudd, also chimed in with kind words about Wendt. "It's going to be felt, his absence, this year, even though he's so a part of it, just as much as any of us," Rudd, 56, said. "He is a really really sweet guy. I loved him." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Wendt — who played Norm Peterson on Cheers for the show's entire 11-season run from 1982 to 1993 — died on the morning of Tuesday, May 20. He was 76. Wendt's publicist confirmed his death in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, "Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy Cheers, has passed away." "George's family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home," the statement continued. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever." "The family has requested privacy during this time," the statement concluded. During a 2024 episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Wendt told host Steve Kmetko he was "very proud" of Sudeikis. "Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he's solid," Wendt said at the time, also calling the comedian "so smart" and "so thoughtful." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Sudeikis shared his fondest memory of Wendt in a 2017 interview with The A.V. Club, recalling a white-knuckle drive in his uncle's BMW with his dad. "He took me and my dad for a ride. My dad sat shotgun, I was in the back all by myself," he remembered, noting that it was before wearing seatbelts were required by law. "He had my dad holding on ... and I'm just sliding around in the background just because the seats were brand new." Wendt is survived by his wife and their three children: Hilary, Joe and Daniel. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Sudeikis recalls fondest memory with uncle and ‘Cheers' star George Wendt, who died at age 76
Jason Sudeikis once shared a childhood memory of his famous uncle, "Cheers" star George Wendt, taking him on a terrifying drive in a new BMW through the twisty roads of Los Angeles' famed Laurel Canyon neighborhood. Sudeikis recalled the story in September 2017 while speaking to The A.V. Club on the red carpet of the 'Second City's Roast Of George Wendt' event he hosted in honor of his uncle, who died May 20 at age 76, NBC News has confirmed. 'We all went out to California to visit and George had just gotten a new car ... It was a badass BMW with, like, manual drive, which I'd never seen before, you know, I was pretty young,' Sudeikis, who grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, began as Wendt stood beside him smiling. 'He took me and my dad for a ride,' Sudeikis, 49, continued as 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. 'He drove us through Laurel Canyon,' Sudeikis said, motioning with his arm to indicate the neighborhood's hilly terrain. Though Wendt had driven the roads 'hundreds and thousands of times,' Sudeikis and and his father were scared for their lives. 'He had my dad holding onto (the car) like nothing you've ever seen,' Sudeikis said, now also laughing. 'And I'm just like sliding around the background just because the seats were brand new.' 'I hold that memory very fondly,' the former 'Saturday Night Live' star concluded. Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as the beer-loving Norm Peterson on 'Cheers," which aired from 1982 to 1993. In 2024, Wendt reunited with fellow "Cheers" cast members Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger at the 75th Annual Emmy Awards. Wendt reprised the role of Norm on the short-lived "Cheers" spinoff 'The Tortellis' and again on the more successful spin-off 'Frasier.' He also briefly starred in his own CBS sitcom, 'The George Wendt Show." Wendt died at home in his sleep, his family confirmed in a statement through his publicist. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the statement said. 'He will be missed forever.'This article was originally published on
NBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Jason Sudeikis recalls fond memory with uncle and 'Cheers' star George Wendt
Jason Sudeikis once shared a childhood memory of his famous uncle, 'Cheers' star George Wendt, taking him on a terrifying drive in a new BMW through the twisty roads of Los Angeles' famed Laurel Canyon neighborhood. Sudeikis recalled the story in September 2017 while speaking to The A.V. Club on the red carpet of the 'Second City's Roast Of George Wendt' event he hosted in honor of his uncle, who died Tuesday at age 76. 'We all went out to California to visit and George had just gotten a new car ... It was a badass BMW with, like, manual drive, which I'd never seen before, you know, I was pretty young,' Sudeikis, who grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, began as Wendt stood beside him smiling. 'He took me and my dad for a ride,' Sudeikis, continued as 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. 'He drove us through Laurel Canyon,' Sudeikis said, motioning with his arm to indicate the neighborhood's hilly terrain. Though Wendt had driven the roads 'hundreds and thousands of times,' Sudeikis and and his father were scared for their lives. 'He had my dad holding onto (the car) like nothing you've ever seen,' Sudeikis said, now also laughing. 'And I'm just like sliding around the background just because the seats were brand new.' 'I hold that memory very fondly,' the former 'Saturday Night Live' star concluded. Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as the beer-loving Norm Peterson on 'Cheers,' which aired from 1982 to 1993. In 2024, Wendt r eunited with fellow 'Cheers' cast members Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger at the 75th Annual Emmy Awards. Wendt reprised the role of Norm on the short-lived 'Cheers' spinoff 'The Tortellis' and again on the more successful spin-off 'Frasier.' He also briefly starred in his own CBS sitcom, 'The George Wendt Show.' Wendt died at home in his sleep, his family confirmed in a statement through his publicist. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the statement said. 'He will be missed forever.'
