Jason Sudeikis spent the weekend in his hometown of Kansas City over the weekend for his annual Big Slick charity event, where he also opened up about his late uncle, George Wendt.
The beloved Cheers star passed away in his sleep on May 20 at 76 years of age, as a slew of stars paid tribute including his co-stars such as Ted Danson.
Sudeikis was asked about his uncle during a Friday press conference for ahead of the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend fundraiser for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
After saying he was an ‘amazing guy,’ the microphone cut out, as he joked, ‘that’s him messing with the sound board, like “Don’t talk about me, quit talking about me.”‘
‘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,’ Sudeikis said of Wendt (via Kansas City TV station KSHB 41).
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‘He’s as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,’ Sudeikis said of his uncle.
‘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,’ he added.
Sudeikis continued, ‘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, going to Rockhurst University (in Kansas City).’
Sudeikis joked that he also went to, ‘a bar called Mike’s a whole bunch, where I think he logged maybe 18 credit hours.’
‘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.’
Sudeikis helps organize the annual event along with other notable Kansas City natives like Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestreet, Heidi Gardner, which Wendt would often participate in.
Riggle added, ‘I’ll just say as you know as an observer too, George was always willing to participate. He was always an active participant in Big Slick whether he was umpiring the game, on stage whatever it was. He was easy with a laugh and always fun to be around.’
Rudd admitted that Wendt’s absence, ‘will be felt,’ adding, ‘he’s so a part of it, just as much as any of us. He is a really really sweet guy. I loved him.’
The weekend culminates with a celebrity softball game, with Sudeikis honoring his uncle by wearing a Kansas City Royals jersey with Wendt 76 on the back.
Last June, Wendt appeared on the Still Here Hollywood podcast with Steve Kmetko, where Wendt said his nephew Sudeikis was, ‘so smart’ and ‘so thoughtful.’
‘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,’ Wendt said.
He also recalled Sudeikis’ interview, when he was asked whether his uncle gave him any advice regarding his career.
‘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 on SNL,’ Wendt said.