Ellen DeGeneres was overcome with emotion as she revealed the sudden death of a beloved member of her former talk show family, just as the two were preparing to work together again.
Matthew “Matt” Wright, a longtime executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died Friday, October 30, at just 52 years old. His unexpected passing has devastated former colleagues, including DeGeneres, who struggled to hold back tears while remembering the man she credited with helping hold her television family together.
In an emotional Instagram video posted Monday, November 2, the 68-year-old comedian described Wright as an extraordinary friend whose humor and kindness made him unforgettable.
“He was an amazing guy. He was funny. God, he made me laugh,” DeGeneres said, her voice breaking as she recalled their years together. “He was smart. He was kind.”
Fighting back tears, she added, “Everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking.”
Making the loss even more heartbreaking, DeGeneres revealed that she and Wright had recently been planning a new project together. Although her daytime talk show ended in 2022 after 19 seasons, their friendship and professional relationship had continued.
She called Wright “the glue” of the show’s extended family before offering condolences to his husband, Justin, and relatives.
DeGeneres also recalled Wright’s close friendship with Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the show’s beloved DJ and executive producer who died in December 2022. She imagined the two friends reunited, “dancing and laughing,” before becoming too emotional to continue her tribute.
Meanwhile, another former colleague revealed a particularly heartbreaking detail about Wright’s final days.
Andy Lassner, who worked alongside Wright on Ellen, shared photographs taken Thursday, October 29, when Wright stopped by the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show, where Lassner now serves as an executive producer.
“A few hours later, he was gone,” Lassner wrote in a devastating Instagram tribute.
Lassner described Wright as a brilliant producer and an even better person, recalling how he frequently traveled between Los Angeles and New York to care for his mother before her death.
“We should have had so much more time with him,” he wrote, expressing sympathy for Wright’s husband and family. People.com+1
As friends mourned, a fundraiser established for Wright’s family revealed another painful complication surrounding his unexpected passing.
According to the GoFundMe campaign, Wright died while working remotely in Los Angeles, far from his husband, father, sister and niece in New York. The circumstances surrounding his death have not been publicly disclosed.
Organizers described his passing as an “unfathomable tragedy” and revealed that Wright and his husband had both lost their jobs over the summer, leaving the family facing substantial financial pressure as they arranged to bring him home.
The fundraiser was established to cover transportation expenses, a funeral in New York and a memorial in Los Angeles. Any remaining money is intended for a trust benefiting Wright’s niece, Sami, whom his loved ones described as his pride and joy. By Monday evening, donations had surpassed the campaign’s original $50,000 goal. GoFundMe
Wright spent 16 years helping shape The Ellen DeGeneres Show, joining in 2006 and remaining until its final season. Although much of his work happened behind the scenes, he became a familiar face to viewers through his appearances in the show’s comedy sketches and segments.
When the series ended in 2022, Wright reflected on the friendships, unforgettable experiences and personal milestones that had transformed his life, including finding love.
Now, four years after the show’s emotional farewell, its former cast and crew are facing another devastating goodbye, mourning a man remembered not simply for the laughter he helped bring to millions of viewers but for the kindness he showed those who knew him best.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Yup, old Ellen degenerate and her degenerate producer. Fully vaxxed I’d guess?