Ellen Show Producer Matthew Wright Dies at 52

Matthew Wright, the longtime executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died at 52 on October 30 in Los Angeles. His death certificate lists cardiopulmonary arrest, with hypertension as the underlying cause and obstructive sleep apnea and Class II obesity as contributing conditions. Wright worked on the show for 16 years and was also known for appearing in the “Strong Opinions with Matt” segment. DeGeneres remembered him as funny, kind and a central part of the show’s family. A fundraiser was established to help cover funeral and memorial expenses for Wright and his husband; it surpassed its initial goal, and DeGeneres contributed $5,000.