Longtime The Ellen DeGeneres Show executive producer Matthew Wright died in Los Angeles on October 30, 2026, at the age of 52, with his cause of death officially attributed to cardiopulmonary arrest and hypertension.
According to a death certificate obtained by People, Wright’s death involved contributing conditions including obstructive sleep apnea and class II obesity. His family stated in a GoFundMe campaign that he died in what they described as an unfathomable tragedy while working remotely in Los Angeles. The veteran television producer spent 16 years on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, starting in 2006 until the daytime talk show wrapped in 2022, earning nine Emmy wins during his tenure. Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, where he grew up in a large Italian-American family, Wright worked on a career in television production.
Tributes From Ellen DeGeneres and Industry Colleagues
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres posted an emotional video on social media remembering her former colleague. He was an amazing guy. He was funny. God, he made me laugh,
DeGeneres said, fighting back tears. He would surprise me with things that he did all the time. He was smart. He was kind. He was the part of our show that — I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him.
We’re going to miss him. He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at ‘The Ellen Show.’
Ellen DeGeneres
In her video, Ellen also had a message for Matt’s family: Anyway, to Justin, his husband, and to his family, I’m so sorry, because we lost a good guy.
DeGeneres noted that she and Wright had been preparing to collaborate on a new project together before his sudden passing. She also reflected on Wright’s close friendship with Stephen tWitch
Boss, the show’s late DJ who died in December 2022 at the age of 40, expressing her belief that the two colleagues are now together, dancing and laughing.
Other former colleagues shared their grief online. Jennifer Hudson posted that she was so saddened by the loss
of Wright, who had visited the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show just days prior for their Halloween show, noting that he made a huge impact on so many people in the industry and beyond. Kalen Allen also shared that Wright came to support him during his Broadway debut in the 2024 revival of Elf The Musical.
Crowdfunding Campaign Surpasses Goal with Celebrity Donations
The appeal quickly surpassed its initial $50,000 goal, raising more than $94,000 by Wednesday, November 4. Contributions included donations from Ellen DeGeneres, who donated $5,000, former executive producer Andy Lassner, who contributed $1,000, and Allison Holker, widow of Stephen tWitch
Boss, who contributed $500.
Remembering a Career in Daytime Television
Before his 16-year run on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he joined in 2006, rose through the ranks to executive producer, participated in on-camera segments—including being playfully referenced as “Pickle Boy”—and served as a producer on Ellen’s Game of Games from 2017 to 2018 and the 2009 special Ellen’s Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Wright began his television career as a producer on the 2002–06 SoapNet series Soap Talk. He later contributed as a consulting producer on The Jennifer Hudson Show from 2022 to 2023, and worked on The View and The Drew Barrymore Show.
Modern Family actor Eric Stonestreet shared his memories of Wright on social media, writing: Everyone loved him is right. And Matt is who started the ‘let’s scare Eric every gosh darn time he’s on the Ellen show tradition!! Rest in peace Matt.