Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 2 hrs ago
Ellen DeGeneres pays tribute after producer Matthew Wright dies at 52
Matthew Wright, 52, died suddenly on October 30 in Los Angeles, where he was working remotely.
He was an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, from 2006 until it ended in 2022.
The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Ellen DeGeneres remembered him as a close friend and the show's glue, saying they had planned to work on a project together.
Former colleague Andy Lassner said he saw Wright on the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show just hours before he died.
Wright and his husband had both been laid off in the summer, and his family was in New York when he died.
A fundraiser is seeking help with the cost of bringing him home and funeral and memorial expenses; no further plans have been announced.
Matthew Wright, an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, died at 52 on October 30.
Ellen DeGeneres paid tribute to Wright in a video, calling his death shocking and remembering him as funny, smart and kind.
The cause of death has not been shared.
Wright was working remotely in Los Angeles when he died, while his family was in New York, according to a fundraiser for his family.
Former colleague Andy Lassner said he had seen Wright hours before his death.
- Who
- Matthew Wright, an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died at 52.
- What
- Wright died suddenly, and Ellen DeGeneres and former colleagues paid tribute to him.
- When
- October 30. The year was 2026.
- Where
- He was working remotely in Los Angeles, while his family was in New York.
- Why
- The cause of death was not shared.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wright began working on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended after Wright had worked on it for 16 years.
Wright died suddenly while working remotely in Los Angeles.
Andy Lassner shared a tribute to Wright on Instagram.
Articles reported Wright’s death and DeGeneres’s tribute.
- Age
- 52
- Death date
- October 30, 2026
- Ellen show tenure
- 16 years, from 2006 until 2022
- Work location at death
- Los Angeles
- Fundraiser goal
- $50,000
- Fundraiser amount reported
- $25,000 reached at the time of Yahoo’s publication
3 sources
What people are saying
He was an amazing guy
We are all in shock.
I’m devastated and heartbroken to hear about Matt’s passing.
I will forever be grateful to @theellenshow for taking a chance on me and changing my life!