Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis has shared a heartfelt message for his late uncle George Wendt, who passed away last month. In his tribute to the Cheers alum, Sudeikis noted the influence Wendt had on him as an actor before sharing tidbits about his late uncle’s jovial personality.
Here’s what Jason Sudeikis had to say about the untimely death of George Wendt.
Jason Sudeikis talks about his late uncle, George Wendt
During his recent appearance at the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend fundraiser, held at the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, Jason Sudeikis honored George Wendt following Wendt’s death in May 2025, stating, “He’s as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films. I mean, there’s that old saying of like, ‘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,” as per KSHB-TV Houston.
Talking about the impact George Wendt had on his career, Jason Sudeikis noted, “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.”
Jason Sudeikis then expanded upon what a people’s person George Wendt was, remarking, “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 [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.”
The four-time Primetime Emmy Award winner concluded his earnest account by saying, “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.”
George Wendt is best known for portraying Norm Peterson on Cheers for 11 seasons, which earned him a whopping six Primetime Emmy nominations.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on ComingSoon.
