Matthew Wright had visited the set of “The Jennifer Hudson Show” for its Halloween taping just one day before his death. He spent time with former colleagues on Thursday, October 29. Hours later, the television producer was gone. He died on October 30 at 52 while working remotely in Los Angeles, California.
His sudden death has shocked people who worked with him over the years, including Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Hudson and longtime television producer Andy Lassner. His family described his passing as an “unfathomable tragedy” but has not disclosed what caused his death.
Lassner, who worked alongside Wright for years, shared photographs from their final meeting on the set of Hudson’s show. In his tribute, he explained that Wright had stopped by while they were recording the Halloween episode. He said the news of his death just hours later left everyone in shock.
Lassner remembered Wright as a brilliant producer and an even better human being. He also spoke about the way Wright cared for his mother, explaining that he regularly traveled between Los Angeles and New York, sometimes flying back and forth almost every weekend to spend time with her before she died. He said Wright showed that same depth of love to his friends.
Jennifer Hudson also expressed her sadness over the loss. She remembered Wright as one of the former producers who helped launch her daytime television program and said he had made a major difference in the lives of many people in the entertainment industry and beyond. She also pointed out that his visit to the show had happened just the day before his death.
Wright was perhaps best known for his 16 years working behind the scenes of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” As an executive producer, he played an important role in the program until it ended in 2022. His work brought him close to DeGeneres and many other people who became part of the show’s extended family.
DeGeneres shared an emotional Instagram video after learning of his death. She remembered Wright as funny, smart and kind, saying he had a way of surprising her and making her laugh. She also said he was loved by everyone on the show and described him as an important part of the team.
The former talk show host revealed that she and Wright had been planning to work on another project together before his death. The sudden loss meant those plans would never happen. Her tribute reflected the personal bond they had developed during their many years working together.
Away from the television industry, Wright’s family is facing the difficult task of arranging his funeral. His husband, Justin, along with his father, sister and niece, are based in New York. They organized a GoFundMe campaign to help bring him home from Los Angeles and cover the costs of a funeral and memorial service.
The family also explained that both Wright and Justin had been laid off during the summer. The additional financial pressure made the unexpected expenses especially difficult to handle. Their fundraising message asked friends and former colleagues to help in whatever way they could.
The campaign remembered Wright through the small things that made him special to those around him. It described a man who knew how to make people laugh, offered kind words when they were needed and enjoyed ordering extra food for everyone at the table. The family also shared a humorous request that people remember him whenever they see a sunset while eating out, even if he might not approve of their food choices.
The fundraiser had passed its original $50,000 target by November 3, reaching more than $73,000 through hundreds of donations. The response reflects the number of people willing to help his family during an extremely difficult period.
Wright’s final visit to the Jennifer Hudson Show has now become an especially painful memory for the people who saw him that day. His family is still waiting to bring him home, while former colleagues remember the man they knew as a talented producer, a loyal friend and someone who could make an ordinary day more enjoyable.
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