The daytime TV world is mourning Matthew Wright, a producer who spent 16 years on“The Ellen DeGeneres Show”and helped launch“The Jennifer Hudson Show.”Wright died Friday at 52, just one day after visiting the JHud set for its Halloween episode. His cause of death has not been revealed. Hudson posted a tribute Monday calling it heartbreaking, writing that he“was just back to visit on Thursday for our Halloween show!”
Ellen DeGeneres also shared a tearful video tribute, remembering Wright as“an amazing guy”who made her laugh and surprised her constantly. She donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe launched by Wright’s family to transport his body from California to New York, where his husband and relatives live. The fund reflects a difficult year: Wright and his husband had both been laid off over the summer, according to reports.
Wright’s death is a reminder of the bonds formed behind the cameras, and of how quickly life can change. If you grew up watching daytime talk shows, these names are part of your TV history, and this loss hits close for a lot of fans.
Have you ever lost someone right after seeing them? Share your story in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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