George Wendt of "Cheers" gets roasted for charity

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Those who love and respect George Wendt gathered Saturday for "I Can't Believe They Wendt There," a benefit roast of the comedian many remember as Norm from "Cheers," and a gifted actor and improv artist.

"It's not my cup of tea to get roasted," Wendt said. "At the end of the day I am just going to sit there and it's kind of what I have done my whole career, it's even what I do at home, I sit there."

Emceeing the roast was actor Jason Sudeikis, an actor and Second City alum who just so happens to be Wendt's nephew. Sudeikis said he had no idea how famous his uncle was when he was a kid.

"When I realized that that show was watched by other people than my family, I thought, 'oh wow,'" Sudeikis said.

The star-studded roster was made up of those who had worked onstage, TV and film with Wendt.

"He's like a big bowl of beer with hair, a lot of hair - you know he has good hair - such good hair," said Betty Thomas, an actress and director.

The roast raised funds for Gilda's Club of Chicago and the Second City Alumni Fund.