Sudeikis recalled the story in September 2017 while speaking to The A.V. Club on the red carpet of the “Second City’s Roast Of George Wendt” event he hosted in honor of his uncle, who died May 20 at age 76, NBC News has confirmed.

"For eleven years on 'Cheers,' we shared a stage, a lot of laughs and a front-row seat to one of television’s most beloved friendships," Ratzenberger said.

Jeff Ross was among the first to pay tribute to Wendt — who was best known for playing Norm Peterson on Cheers, and appeared in every episode from its 1982 premiere to its finale in 1993 — following the news of his death.

George Wendt, who played Norm in all 11 seasons of "Cheers," is being honored by his co-stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman and more after dying at 76.