Jason Sudeikis recalled his fondest memory with uncle George Wendt before Cheers stars death

It was almost game over for Jason Sudeikis on Laurel Canyon.Years before his uncle George Wendt’s death at age 76 on Tuesday, the actor, 49, recalled a childhood memory that involved a fast, new BMW — and the narrow roads of Los Angeles.“We all went out to California to visit and George had just gotten a new car …,” Sudeikis told The A.V.

Club on the red carpet of the “Second City’s Roast Of George Wendt” in 2017.“It was a badass BMW with, like, manual drive, which I’d never seen before, you know, I was pretty young.”The Kansas City, Missouri native recounted, “He took me and my dad for a ride,” before Wendt burst out laughing.“My dad sat shotgun.

I was in the back all by myself.This is not when you needed, you know, mandatory seatbelts,” Sudeikis continued.

“He drove us through Laurel Canyon.” While the “Cheers” star had driven on the windy road “hundreds and thousands of times,” the “Horrible Bosses” actor and his dad, Dan Sudeikis, weren’t privy to the route.In fact, the father-son duo were scared for their lives.“He had my dad holding onto (the car) like nothing you’ve ever seen,” Sudeikis confessed with a chuckle.“And I’m just, like, sliding around the background just because the seats were brand new.”“I hold that memory very fondly,” the “We’re the Millers” actor sweetly stated.A few years prior, in 2011, Sudeikis got candid about his relationship with Wendt while speaking with Playboy.“He’s always been very encouraging, but there was no ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ kind of relationship between him and I,” he 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.”Sudeikis and Wendt — who is the brother of Sudeikis’ mom, Kathy — have always had a close bond, with the comedian gushing over the “Ted Lasso” actor’s success in the industry in 2024.“It was L...