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Ellen DeGeneres Honors Late Producer Matthew Wright
· Confirmed
In Short: Ellen DeGeneres mourned the death of longtime producer Matthew Wright, who died at 52.
Ellen DeGeneres is remembering Matthew Wright, the executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who died at the age of 52.
In a heartfelt tribute, DeGeneres shared a tearful video on Instagram, calling Wright 'the glue to our entire family.' She expressed her gratitude for the 16 years they worked together, noting that they were planning a new project at the time of his death.
Wright's family confirmed his death in a GoFundMe post, describing it as an 'unfathomable tragedy.' DeGeneres highlighted Wright's brilliance as a producer and his kindness, mentioning his dedication to his mother, who he flew back and forth to see in New York.
DeGeneres and Wright's relationship extended beyond the workplace. She said, 'He was a brilliant producer and an even better human being. The way he looked after his mom, flying back and forth from Los Angeles to New York practically every weekend before she died, showed what an incredible son he was.'
Wright's husband and family are based in New York, and they are asking for donations for 'a proper goodbye,' according to the GoFundMe page.
Jennifer Hudson also paid tribute to Wright, emphasizing his significant impact on the industry and beyond. She said, 'He made such a huge impact on so many people in this industry and beyond!'
Wright had worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2006 to 2022, and his LinkedIn profile indicates he also worked on The Drew Barrymore Show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and game shows created by DeGeneres.
Andy Lassner, another executive producer on the show, shared that he was with Wright just hours before his death. Lassner wrote on Instagram, 'We are all in shock,' and added, 'He was a good guy.'
DeGeneres broke down in tears in a selfie video tribute to Wright on Monday, November 2, just days after he died.
Wright's death was sudden and occurred while he was working remotely in Los Angeles, according to the GoFundMe page.
DeGeneres and Wright were working on a project together at the time of his death, though details about the nature of the project and the cause of his death have not been disclosed.
What this adds
Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Hudson's tributes highlight the personal impact Wright had on their lives and careers.
Wright's LinkedIn profile indicates he also worked on The Drew Barrymore Show and The Jennifer Hudson Show.
No tribute to Wright has appeared on Drew Barrymore's personal social media accounts or the official accounts of The Drew Barrymore Show, according to a review by IBTimes UK.
Background
Ellen DeGeneres mourned the death of longtime producer Matthew Wright, who died suddenly at age 52 while working remotely in Los Angeles.
Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Matthew Wright, a longtime producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who died suddenly at age 52.
What's confirmed
- Days after the family of The Ellen DeGeneres Show 's executive producer Matthew Wright confirmed in a GoFundMe that he had died at 52 in an “unfathomable tragedy," the Emmy winner expressed her grief over the news.
- Ellen DeGeneres is mourning the death of her longtime talk show producer, Matthew Wright.
- Degeneres revealed that she and Wright were working on a project at the time of his death, though she offered no details about that endeavor or the nature of the 52-year-old television veteran’s death.
- Wright died while working remotely in Los Angeles, according to the GoFundMe, while his family is in New York.
- “So Matt Wright, who was our executive producer and was featured on our show a lot, died the other day,” said a visibly emotional DeGeneres, 68.
What's still developing
- Ellen DeGeneres is remembering an unforgettable member of her eponymous talk show’s team.
- And while it’s true Wright and DeGeneres were a dream team professionally, the 68-year-old shared their relationship went much deeper.
- As of 2 November, no tribute to Wright had appeared on Barrymore's personal social media accounts or the official accounts of The Drew Barrymore Show, according to a review by IBTimes UK.
- Ellen DeGeneres is grieving the loss of someone whose influence on her television career extended far beyond the production room.
- Shelby County farmer Ellen Walsh-Rosman said many producers are facing financial pressure from high diesel prices, low commodity prices, and uncertainty surrounding trade policy.
- Ellen DeGeneres is mourning the loss of one of her closest and most cherished colleagues.