Jason Sudeikis is remembering his late uncle, George Wendt, and the incredible influence he had on him. During the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend on May 30, Sudeikis spoke about his uncle, who passed away on May 20 at the age of 76.

"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.

"He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films," the Ted Lasso actor continued. "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."

Sudeikis also shared that his uncle showed him that acting is a career where "you could meet the love of your life, like his wife, a.k.a. permanent girlfriend, Bernadette," referring to Wendt's wife of nearly 50 years, Bernadette Birkett.

Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on Cheers for 11 seasons, was remembered by several others on the celebrity panel, including Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet, and Paul Rudd.

"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 said. "He is a really really sweet guy. I loved him."

Wendt's death was announced on May 20 by his publicist, who stated that he died peacefully in his sleep.

Other celebrities who have paid tribute to Wendt include Ted Danson, who reacted to the news of his death, saying, "One of the best."

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