#3 trendingMatthew Wright
Matthew Wright's Career Beyond 'Ellen': Jennifer Hudson Remembers Producer as Cause of Death Stays Private
More colleagues are remembering Matthew “Matt” Wright, the longtime Ellen DeGeneres Show executive producer who died Friday, Oct. 30, at 52. Jennifer Hudson is the latest. She said Wright helped launch her daytime talk show and visited its set the day before he died.
As of early Tuesday, Nov. 3, his family has not released a cause of death. A fundraiser for the family says only that he died “in an unfathomable tragedy” while working remotely in Los Angeles. ABC News reported that no cause has been disclosed.
Jennifer Hudson’s tribute
In a Facebook post reported by IBTimes UK, Hudson wrote: “So saddened by the loss of Matt Wright.” She added: “He made such a huge impact on so many people in this industry and beyond!”
Hudson said Wright stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show on Thursday, Oct. 29, while the team was getting ready for its Halloween episode. Former Ellen producer Andy Lassner, now an executive producer on Hudson’s show, had already shared photos from that visit. “Matt came by to visit. A few hours later, he was gone,” Lassner wrote, according to ABC News.
Matthew Wright’s career beyond ‘Ellen’
Wright is best known for his long run on Ellen, where he worked from 2006 until the show ended in 2022, according to ABC News. IBTimes UK, citing his LinkedIn profile, described him as a nine-time Emmy winner who rose through several production roles there before becoming executive producer.
His later work included:
- The Jennifer Hudson Show: He helped launch it in 2022 and was a consulting producer in its first season, IBTimes UK reported.
- The Drew Barrymore Show: His LinkedIn lists him as a senior supervising producer starting in August 2023, overseeing creative development, daily production and celebrity segments, per IBTimes UK.
The family’s fundraiser says Wright and his husband, Justin, were both laid off this summer. IBTimes UK noted that it did not say by which employers.
In a 2022 Instagram post when Ellen wrapped, Wright wrote, “How do I even begin to sum up 16 years of my life?” He said he had “made so many best friends” and “even fell in love thanks to this show,” ABC News reported.
Ellen DeGeneres and the family fundraiser
In her video tribute on Monday, DeGeneres said she and Wright had been “working on a project to do together” that they were “supposed to start,” Us Weekly reported. She called him “the glue to our entire family at The Ellen Show.”
IBTimes UK reported that a $5,000 donation under DeGeneres’ name appears on the fundraiser’s donor list. When IBTimes checked, the campaign had raised $51,770 from 268 donations, past its $50,000 goal. Us Weekly said the money will bring Wright home to his family in New York and pay for a funeral there and a memorial in Los Angeles. Anything left over will go into a trust for his niece, Sami.
How did Matthew Wright die?
It hasn’t been made public. Neither the family nor any official agency quoted in coverage has given a cause, and no outlet cited here has reported one. This post will be updated if verified information is released.
FAQ
How old was Matthew Wright?
He was 52.
What shows did Matt Wright produce?
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2006-2022), The Jennifer Hudson Show in its first season, and, according to his LinkedIn as reported by IBTimes UK, The Drew Barrymore Show from 2023.
Who survives him?
His husband, Justin, plus his father, sister and niece, according to the family fundraiser.
Earlier coverage: Matthew Wright, Longtime 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Executive Producer, Dies at 52 (Nov 2)