Ellen DeGeneres Show Producer Matthew Wright: Dies at 52 While Working Remotely

Matthew Wright, who served as an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, died on Friday, Oct. 30, while working remotely in Los Angeles. Wright was 52. His family in Ulster County, New York, is currently raising funds to return his body home for burial and to hold a memorial service.

A GoFundMe campaign established by friends and colleagues reported that Wright and his husband, Justin, were both laid off during the summer. The family now faces the financial burden of transporting Wright from California to New York, arranging a local funeral, and hosting a memorial in Los Angeles. As of Monday, Nov. 2, the fundraiser had collected $30,531 of its $50,000 goal. Organizers stated that any funds remaining after expenses will be placed in a trust for Wright's niece, Sami.

Ellen DeGeneres posted a tribute on Instagram on Monday, Nov. 2. She described Wright as funny, smart, and kind, noting that he was a central part of the show's team. DeGeneres revealed that the two were preparing to collaborate on a new project that they had not yet started. "We’re gonna miss him, he is and always will be the glue to our entire family at the Ellen show," she wrote. "We lost a good guy."

Andy Lassner, another former executive producer on the program, shared that he had visited Wright's workplace just hours before the producer died. Wright had stopped by the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show for its Halloween episode. Lassner wrote on Instagram on Sunday, Nov. 1, that the team is in shock. "A few hours later, he was gone," Lassner stated, calling Wright a brilliant producer and a better human being.

The cause of Wright's death has not been publicly disclosed. When The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in 2022, Wright shared a message on Instagram reflecting on his tenure. He credited the program with helping him make lifelong friends and find love. "I’ve made so many best friends, had so many amazing experiences, met so many heroes of mine and even fell in love thanks to this show," he wrote that day.

Wright's immediate family, including his husband, father, sister, and niece, are in New York. The GoFundMe organizers described the group as desperate to reunite for a proper goodbye. The campaign is open to donations from those wishing to support the family's arrangements.