Matthew Wright, a longtime television producer who helped shape some of daytime television’s most popular shows, has died at 52. His sudden death on October 30 has left former colleagues, friends and loved ones struggling to understand the loss. His family described what happened as an “unfathomable tragedy.”
Wright died while working remotely in Los Angeles, California, thousands of miles away from his husband and other relatives in New York. The circumstances surrounding his death have not been made public, and his family has not announced an official cause of death.
His death became public through a GoFundMe campaign organized by members of his family, including his husband, Justin, his father, sister and niece. They launched the fundraiser to help cover the unexpected costs of bringing him back to New York, where his loved ones hope to give him a proper funeral and memorial service.
The family also revealed that Wright and his husband had both been laid off during the summer. With the unexpected expenses following his death, they said they were struggling to manage the cost of transportation and funeral arrangements.
The fundraising message offered a personal picture of the man they had lost. It remembered Wright as someone who made people laugh, offered encouraging words when friends needed them and often ordered more food than anyone could finish when they went out together. The family asked those who knew him to contribute whatever they could and share the fundraiser with others whose lives he had touched.
Wright’s former boss, Ellen DeGeneres, also shared an emotional tribute after learning of his death. In an Instagram video, the former talk show host remembered him as an amazing man who was funny, smart and kind. She said he regularly surprised her with things that made her laugh and was someone everyone on the show loved.
DeGeneres worked with Wright for 16 years on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” where he served as an executive producer and became a familiar part of the show’s team. She also revealed that they had been preparing to work together on another project before his sudden passing. She described him as someone who would always remain an important part of the show’s family.
Jennifer Hudson also paid tribute to Wright, remembering his contribution to the launch of “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” In a social media post, Hudson said she was saddened by his death and revealed that he had visited the show just one day before he died for its Halloween episode.
Andy Lassner, an executive producer on Hudson’s show and a longtime colleague of Wright, shared an especially painful account of their last meeting. He said Wright had visited the set on Thursday while they were taping the Halloween show. Just a few hours later, Wright was gone.
Lassner described him as a brilliant producer and an even better person. He also remembered how Wright regularly traveled between Los Angeles and New York to care for his mother before she died, saying the same level of love and commitment carried into his friendships.
The family has continued receiving support as friends and former colleagues respond to the loss. The GoFundMe campaign has since surpassed its original $50,000 target, with more than $73,000 raised from hundreds of donations as of November 3.
For those who worked alongside Wright, his death means losing more than an experienced television producer. It means losing a friend whose humor, kindness and presence made a lasting impression on the people around him. His family is now focused on bringing him home and giving him the farewell they say he deserves.
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