Latest news with #Wendt
Yahoo
a day 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
a day 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
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jason Sudeikis breaks silence on uncle George Wendt's death
Jason Sudeikis is honoring his late uncle George Wendt. The veteran actor, who was known for playing the iconic Norm Peterson on 'Cheers' for all 11 seasons, from 1982 to 1993, died May 20 at age 76 in his sleep. Nearly two weeks later, Sudeikis, 49, spoke about Wendt's death for the first time at the Big Slick 2025 kickoff in Kansas City over the weekend. Advertisement 15 Jason Sudeikis at day 1 of the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City on May 30. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 15 Jason Sudeikis and George Wendt in 2014. GC Images 'With regard to my uncle George, there's that saying, '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,' the 'Ted Lasso' star said during a news conference at the event. Advertisement 'He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,' Sudeikis continued about 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, and it's also a career where you could meet the love of your life like his wife, and AKA permanent girlfriend, Bernadette.' 15 Jason Sudeikis speaks on stage at the 2025 Big Slick Weekend. Getty Images 'He also always kept connected to his family and to his roots both both in Chicago where he's from, and from the time he spent here going to Rockhurst college and to a bar named Mike's a whole bunch where I think he logged maybe 18 credit hours,' Sudeikis joked. 'But it was all for preparation of a job that we all know him for on 'Cheers,' and all time well spent. But yeah, we miss him greatly and I love him dearly.' Sudeikis is hosting the benefit event to raise money for Children's Mercy Hospital. He sweetly wore a jersey with Wendt's last name on the back and the number 76 (Wendt's age at death) at the celebrity softball game. Advertisement 15 Jason Sudeikis honors George Wendt at the celebrity softball game at Kauffman Stadium during the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. Getty Images 15 Jason Sudeikis reps his late uncle at the Big Slick celebrity softball game. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 15 Jason Sudeikis participates in 2025 Big Slick Weekend. Getty Images Sudeikis and Wendt have always been close, with 'The George Wendt Show' star gushing over the 'Ted Lasso' actor's career in 2024. Advertisement 'It was Letterman or Conan, he said, 'Did your uncle George have any advice for you?'' Wendt recalled 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.'' 15 Jason Sudeikis during the Big Slick celebrity softball game. Getty Images 15 Curt Menefee, Johnny Knoxville, Jason Sudeikis and Andy Richter at the 2025 Big Slick softball game. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 15 George Wendt, Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 'He got 'SNL,'' the comedian, who is the brother of Sudeikis' mom, Kathy, added. 'He's such a great kid,' Wendt continued of Sudeikis. '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?' During the interview, Wendt also reflected on his own journey into Hollywood. 'I didn't want to be in a job I hated for the rest of my life,' he admitted before noting he went through a long list of careers before landing on comedy. Advertisement Wendt ended up joining Chicago's improvisational comedy troupe Second City, which he called 'a blast.' 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attends Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party at Mother Wolf on January 15, 2024. WireImage 'I had fun and it wasn't really until I'd been there working, and then they called from Leo Burnett or something and said, 'Hey, can you send the people, some of the cast over… we're going to do some commercials or we're going to have some demos for commercials,' that sort of thing, and they said, 'Well you have to join SAG.'' Sudeikis, meanwhile, opened up about his relationship with Wendt during a 2011 interview with Playboy. Advertisement 'He's always been very encouraging, but there was no 'Tuesdays With Morrie' kind of relationship between him and I,' the 'Horrible Bosses' star 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.' 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attends Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party. Lisa O'Connor/AFF-USA/Shutterstock Sudeikis added, 'Here's a guy from the Midwest, in my family, who took the road less traveled and it worked out for him. The advice he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is 'Get on one of the best sitcoms of all time and then ride it out.'' The 'We're the Millers' alum got his start as a writer on 'Saturday Night Live' before starring as a cast member for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013. Advertisement In 2008, Sudeikis revealed to The Post that Wendt didn't give him any tips for being on the late-night sketch show, despite the 'Cheers' actor's frequent appearances on it over the years. 15 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 'Not at all,' he confessed. 'George is great at shepherding out advance, like, 'You know who you should talk to?' But the neat thing is, my third week there, Robert Smigel, who wrote the Superfan sketches, was like, 'Wanna help me write a Superfans thing for your uncle George and Horatio [Sanz]?' So I'm sitting there with comedy legend Robert Smigel my third week in this job that I can't believe I have, and we're writing stuff for my uncle George based on characters he's done since I was 15. It's crazy.' In 2017, Sudeikis attended 'I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast Of George Wendt' in Chicago, Illinois. On the red carpe before the roast, the 'Horrible Bosses 2' vet cheekily told ABC7, 'When I realized that that show ['Cheers'] was watched by other people than my family, I thought, 'oh wow.'' Advertisement Wendt's family rep confirmed his death to The Post last month, stating that the star 'died peacefully in his sleep while at home' that morning. 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis at Big Slick Party and Auction in Kansas City. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock '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. During his time on the NBC sitcom, Wendt garnered six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm. The cast of 'Cheers' recently had a mini-reunion at the 2024 Emmys. 15 Nicholas Colasanto, Shelley Long, Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, and George Wendt on 'Cheers.' ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Wendt, along with Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger, reunited as part of a special tribute at the awards ceremony honoring some of the most beloved shows in TV history. The cast appeared on stage inside a replica of the iconic Boston bar, with host Anthony Anderson calling the sitcom 'one of the greatest television shows of all time.' 'This feels nice to be here in front of you,' Danson, 77, said, before Ratzenberger, 78, chimed in that the event was a 'long overdue class reunion.' 15 George Wendt arrives at the Alliance For Children's Rights 3rd annual celebrity right to laugh event at Avalon on June 12, 2012 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images Noticeably absent was Woody Harrelson, who couldn't make 'Cheers' because he's in a play,' Jesse Collins, an executive producer for the Emmys, told the Hollywood Reporter at the time. Following the news of Wendt's death, two of his 'Cheers' co-stars released touching statements about his life. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' a rep for Danson shared with 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.' Perlman told The Post in part, 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him.'
Euronews
26-05-2025
- Euronews
India's Kerala state on high alert as vessel with chemical cargo sinks
A state of high alert has been issued in India's southern state of Kerala after a container ship carrying hazardous cargo sank in the Arabian Sea. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA 3 was sailing between the Indian ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi when it sank about 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) off Kerala early on Sunday morning due to flooding in one of its compartments. All 24 crew members were rescued, India's defence ministry said. The vessel went down with 640 containers, including 13 with an unspecified "hazardous cargo" and 12 containing calcium carbide. "As the oil slick can reach anywhere along the Kerala coast, an alert has been sounded across the coastal belt," the chief minister's office said in a statement. It also had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks. Authorities fear that some of the harmful substances the ship was carrying may have leaked into the sea, posing a risk to local residents and marine life. The Kerala chief minister's office on Monday urged people to stay away from some of the containers that began washing ashore. It also advised fishermen not to venture too close to the sunken ship. The Indian Coast Guard said it had sent an aircraft with an oil spill detection system to survey the area. It also deployed a ship carrying pollution control equipment to the site of the accident. Following the latest violent stabbing attack at Hamburg central station on Friday, two of Germany's largest police trade unions are advocating for enhanced video surveillance, increased staffing, and additional controls to bolster law enforcement efforts. At least 18 people were injured after a 39-year-old German woman with a mental health condition attacked a group of people with a knife at the station during rush hour. The attack occurred despite the station being subject to a knife ban since December 2024, which fines anyone found carrying a bladed object with a €10,000 penalty. Police forces and experts are calling for different measures on top of a knife ban in response to the incident, which follows a spate of similar attacks, including one in Bielefeld the week prior in which five were injured. DPoIG national chairman Rainer Wendt argued on Monday that "modern video technology" must be used in areas with high crime rates. In addition, Germany's law enforcement would need "considerably more police forces and relief from non-prison tasks" to implement such technology, Wendt told Euronews. The problem is one of "capacity", according to Wendt. His comments echo those of GdP chairman Andreas Roßkopf, who advocated for placing surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology in so-called "crime hotspots" in the aftermath of the attack. Such cameras could "detect behavioural problems in advance," Roßkopf told the domestic press. In another interview, Roßkopf also called for police to be able to carry out increased checks without cause to tackle knife crime. A spokesperson for the German interior ministry said that after the latest incident, security would once again take a front seat. "Video surveillance is part of the concept. We are already testing AI-based video surveillance at Hansaplatz that detects conspicuous movement patterns," spokesperson Daniel Schaefer said. Experts agree that knife bans by themselves are not always impactful in combating crime — partly due to the difficulty in enforcing them in places such as busy train stations like Hamburg's, through which thousands pass daily. "Weapons ban zones in my view are not a sustainable approach to crime prevention," criminologist at the University of Zurich Dirk Baier told Euronews. "They rely too heavily on controlling and searching passersby." However, according to Baier, neither artificial intelligence nor increased police powers is a single solution to preventing more knife crime. "Knives can be inconspicuously carried in pants or jacket pockets, AI cannot detect that. And knife attackers only behave conspicuously at the moment of the attack, not beforehand," Baier said. Preventative work in schools and early detection are more effective, Baier believes. "Often, individuals who commit knife crimes have previously exhibited aggressive behaviour. The risk posed by such individuals must be identified earlier." DPoIG's Wendt said the family also plays a vital role in the prevention of violent knife attacks. "For young people, it is above all their families who are responsible. If education teaches that it is okay to carry knives, schools, playgrounds and all other public spaces become dangerous places," he said. "Parental responsibility must be emphasised more than before. They are responsible for ensuring that their children go to school unarmed. If necessary, sanctions must be used to make it clear to them that this is not a trivial matter," Wendt concluded. Knife crime has steeply risen in Germany over the past few years, with police statistics showing an almost 10% year-on-year increase in bodily assaults involving knives since 2023. Restrictions, such as those in place at Hamburg train station, were put in place after a mass fatal stabbing in the western city of Solingen in 2024, in which three people were killed.
Euronews
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
German police call for further measures after spate of knife attacks
Following the latest violent stabbing attack at Hamburg central station on Friday, two of Germany's largest police trade unions are advocating for enhanced video surveillance, increased staffing, and additional controls to bolster law enforcement efforts. At least 18 people were injured after a 39-year-old German woman with a mental health condition attacked a group of people with a knife at the station during rush hour. The attack occurred despite the station being subject to a knife ban since December 2024, which fines anyone found carrying a bladed object with a €10,000 penalty. Police forces and experts are calling for different measures on top of a knife ban in response to the incident, which follows a spate of similar attacks, including one in Bielefeld the week prior in which five were injured. DPoIG national chairman Rainer Wendt argued on Monday that "modern video technology" must be used in areas with high crime rates. In addition, Germany's law enforcement would need "considerably more police forces and relief from non-prison tasks" to implement such technology, Wendt told Euronews. The problem is one of "capacity", according to Wendt. His comments echo those of GdP chairman Andreas Roßkopf, who advocated for placing surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology in so-called "crime hotspots" in the aftermath of the attack. Such cameras could "detect behavioural problems in advance," Roßkopf told the domestic press. In another interview, Roßkopf also called for police to be able to carry out increased checks without cause to tackle knife crime. A spokesperson for the German interior ministry said that after the latest incident, security would once again take a front seat. "Video surveillance is part of the concept. We are already testing AI-based video surveillance at Hansaplatz that detects conspicuous movement patterns," spokesperson Daniel Schaefer said. Experts agree that knife bans by themselves are not always impactful in combating crime — partly due to the difficulty in enforcing them in places such as busy train stations like Hamburg's, through which thousands pass daily. "Weapons ban zones in my view are not a sustainable approach to crime prevention," criminologist at the University of Zurich Dirk Baier told Euronews. "They rely too heavily on controlling and searching passersby." However, according to Baier, neither artificial intelligence nor increased police powers is a single solution to preventing more knife crime. "Knives can be inconspicuously carried in pants or jacket pockets, AI cannot detect that. And knife attackers only behave conspicuously at the moment of the attack, not beforehand," Baier said. Preventative work in schools and early detection are more effective, Baier believes. "Often, individuals who commit knife crimes have previously exhibited aggressive behaviour. The risk posed by such individuals must be identified earlier." DPoIG's Wendt said the family also plays a vital role in the prevention of violent knife attacks. "For young people, it is above all their families who are responsible. If education teaches that it is okay to carry knives, schools, playgrounds and all other public spaces become dangerous places," he said. "Parental responsibility must be emphasised more than before. They are responsible for ensuring that their children go to school unarmed. If necessary, sanctions must be used to make it clear to them that this is not a trivial matter," Wendt concluded. Knife crime has steeply risen in Germany over the past few years, with police statistics showing an almost 10% year-on-year increase in bodily assaults involving knives since 2023. Restrictions, such as those in place at Hamburg train station, were put in place after a mass fatal stabbing in the western city of Solingen in 2024, in which three people were killed.
