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.

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.