Jason Sudeikis Shares Heartfelt Memory with Uncle George Wendt Before Cheers Star's Death

Published: May 21, 2025

Jason Sudeikis recalled a childhood memory with his uncle George Wendt years before the Cheers star's death.

“I hold that memory very fondly,” the Ted Lasso star said at the time.

Wendt died "peacefully in his sleep" at age 76 on May 20, his publicist confirmed to PEOPLE.

Childhood Memory

Nearly eight years before Wendt's death, the Ted Lasso star, 49, looked back on a childhood memory alongside the late actor during an interview with The A.V. Club at Second City's Roast of George Wendt event in 2017.

“We all went out to California to visit and George had just gotten a new car,” the Kansas City, Missouri native shared in the joint interview with his late uncle. “It was a badass BMW with, like, manual drive, which I’d never seen before, you know, I was pretty young.”

“He took me and my dad for a ride,” he added, as Wendt laughed. “My dad sat shotgun. I was in the back all by myself. This is not when you needed, you know, mandatory seatbelts.”

Wendt — who is the brother of Sudeikis’ mother, Kathy — drove the father-son duo through Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon, which he had navigated “hundreds and thousands of times,” but the pair were in for a jarring experience.

“He had my dad holding onto [the car] like nothing you’ve ever seen,” the Saturday Night Live alum recalled. “And I’m just, like, sliding around the background just because the seats were brand new.”

“I hold that memory very fondly,” he concluded.

Family Bond

The two often praised each other in the media, with Wendt having nothing but good things to say about Sudeikis during a 2024 appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast.

“It was [David] Letterman or Conan [O'Brien]. He said, ‘Did your uncle George have any advice for you?' ” he shared. “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.’”

“He got SNL,” he continued.

“He’s such a great kid. 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 mensch, so smart, so thoughtful. I mean, it all comes out in the show. Right?”

RIP George Wendt

Wendt died at age 76 on the morning of May 20. In a statement to PEOPLE, his publicist Melissa Nathan confirmed, “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.”