Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, has died at 52. A GoFundMe campaign for his family described his death as an “unfathomable tragedy.”
According to the fundraiser, Wright died Friday while working remotely in Los Angeles, while his family was in New York. Wright and his husband had both been laid off this summer, the post said. It also cited the costs of bringing Wright home and arranging a funeral and memorial as reasons for seeking donations.
DeGeneres shared a tearful video tribute on Instagram on Monday. Wright worked on her show from 2006 until it ended in 2022. She remembered him as funny, kind and smart, and called him “the glue to our entire family at The Ellen Show.” Her tribute included clips of his appearances, among them a segment where he humorously complained about restaurants serving too many appetizers.
DeGeneres also recalled Wright’s friendship with former show DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who died in 2022. She said she believed the two were reunited in the afterlife, “dancing and laughing.”
Andy Lassner, another former executive producer on the show, also posted a tribute. He said photographs of them together on the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show had been taken just hours before Wright’s death. Lassner described Wright as a brilliant producer and a close friend, and sent condolences to his husband, Justin, and family.
Former The Real co-host Loni Love also shared her condolences, remembering Wright as talented and sweet. The GoFundMe sought $50,000 for funeral and memorial expenses and a trust for Wright’s niece; it had passed its target by Monday afternoon.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.