A sudden loss for the Ellen family
Matthew Wright, a longtime executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, has died at age 52. He died on Friday, October 30, 2026, and a GoFundMe page set up for his family described his death as an unfathomable tragedy. No cause of death has been made public.
The news has hit hard among his former colleagues. Fellow Ellen producer Andy Lassner shared that Wright had visited him on the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show for its Halloween episode, just hours before he died.
Sixteen years behind, and in front of, the camera
Wright joined The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2006 and stayed until it ended in 2022, rising from producer to executive producer. He oversaw the teams that handled most of the show's interviews, served as showrunner for guest-host episodes, and produced some of its highest-profile guests, including presidents and first ladies.
He was also a familiar face to viewers, appearing in many of the show's comedy bits and games, and helped create a number of its viral moments. He worked on spinoffs including Ellen's Game of Games and the Heads Up! game.
After Ellen wrapped, Wright spent nearly a year as a consulting producer helping launch The Jennifer Hudson Show, then became Senior Supervising Producer on The Drew Barrymore Show. His professional profile describes him as a nine-time Emmy Award winner.
"The glue" of the show
Ellen DeGeneres fought back tears in an Instagram video on Monday, November 2, remembering Wright as the glue that held the Ellen show family together. She called his death shocking and said the two had been planning to work together again on a new project before he died. She also sent her condolences to his husband and family, and reflected on his close friendship with the late Stephen "tWitch" Boss, the show's longtime DJ.
The tribute was followed by a montage of Wright's funniest moments from the show.
Lassner remembered him as a brilliant producer and an even better person.
Wright is survived by his husband, Justin, along with his father, sister and niece. The family's GoFundMe says they are hoping to be together for a proper goodbye, and that the fund will help cover the unexpected costs of bringing him home, a funeral and a memorial. Both Wright and his husband had been laid off earlier this year.