Matthew Wright, Longtime 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Executive Producer, Dies at 52

Matthew “Matt” Wright, who spent 16 years as an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and became a familiar on-camera face for its audience, died Friday, Oct. 30. He was 52. News of his death spread Monday after a fundraiser for his family was shared and Ellen DeGeneres posted an emotional video tribute.

According to the GoFundMe set up for his family and cited by Deadline, Variety and USA Today, Wright died “in an unfathomable tragedy” while working remotely in Los Angeles. No cause of death has been made public.

Who was Matt Wright?

Wright worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2006 until the daytime talk show ended in 2022, The Hollywood Reporter said. Unlike most producers, he was often in front of the camera. Viewers knew him from a recurring segment called “Strong Opinions With Matt,” in which he complained with mock outrage about everyday annoyances. One well-known bit had him scolding restaurants for bringing too many appetizers to the table at once.

Colleagues described him as funny, warm and generous. That reputation shows up throughout the tributes posted since Monday.

How did Matthew Wright die?

The family has not said how he died. The fundraiser says only that he “passed away Oct 30th while working remotely in Los Angeles,” while his husband, father, sister and niece are in New York. USA Today noted that the organizers did not give a cause of death, and none of the outlets reporting the news have published one. Anything beyond that is speculation, and this post won’t repeat it.

Ellen DeGeneres’ tribute

DeGeneres posted a tearful video on Instagram on Monday, Nov. 2. “He was an amazing guy. He was funny. God, he made me laugh,” she said, according to Deadline. “He was smart. He was kind… everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking.” She added: “He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at the ‘Ellen Show.’”

E! News reported that DeGeneres also spoke directly to Wright’s husband, Justin, and his family: “I’m so sorry, because we lost a good guy.” USA Today said DeGeneres revealed that she and Wright were getting ready to start a new project together before he died, and that she gave $5,000 to the family’s fundraiser.

The Hollywood Reporter said DeGeneres mentioned Wright’s close friendship with former Ellen DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who died in 2022, and said she believes the two are now together, “dancing and laughing.” Her video ended with a compilation of Wright’s funniest moments from the show.

Andy Lassner and other colleagues react

Fellow former Ellen executive producer Andy Lassner, who now works on The Jennifer Hudson Show, shared photos of himself with Wright on that show’s set. He said they were taken Thursday, the day before Wright died, when Wright stopped by to visit.

“We are all in shock. He was a brilliant producer and an even better human being,” Lassner wrote. He also recalled how Wright cared for his mother, “flying back and forth from Los Angeles to New York practically every weekend before she died.” He added: “We should have had so much more time with him.”

Former The Real co-host Loni Love wrote on Facebook that she was “devastated and heartbroken,” The Hollywood Reporter reported.

The family fundraiser

The GoFundMe says Wright and his husband were both laid off this summer, and that the “unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.” It asked anyone Wright had made laugh to “repay the favor.” According to USA Today, the money will bring Wright home to New York for a funeral and pay for a memorial in Los Angeles, and anything left over will go into a trust for his niece.

The Hollywood Reporter said the campaign’s $50,000 goal had already been passed by Monday afternoon.

Quick answers

What did Matt Wright do on the Ellen show? He was an executive producer from 2006 to 2022 and appeared on air in segments like “Strong Opinions With Matt.”

When did he die? Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at age 52.

Has a cause of death been released? No. His family and reps have not shared one.

Who survives him? Reports name his husband, Justin, along with his father, sister and niece.