Matthew Wright, a longtime executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died on October 30 at the age of 52. A GoFundMe campaign launched to help his family has now raised more than $73,000, far surpassing its $50,000 goal. Wright died while working remotely in Los Angeles, according to the fundraiser, which described his death as an “unfathomable tragedy.” The news was confirmed by his family through the fundraising page, and tributes have poured in from Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Hudson, and former colleagues.
Who Was Matthew Wright
Matthew “Matt” Wright worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, from 2006 until the show ended in 2022 . He won multiple Emmy Awards as part of the production team . Wright often appeared on camera in segments, including “Strong Opinions With Matt,” where he shared his thoughts on everyday topics like restaurants bringing all the appetizers at once .
Wright is survived by his husband Justin Wright, his father, his sister Mandy, and his niece Sami . The GoFundMe was organized by The Leman Family on behalf of Mandy Wright . Wright’s husband Justin also worked as a producer on the Ellen show, and both men were laid off in summer 2026 .
GoFundMe Raises Over $73,000
The GoFundMe page, titled “Support the Wright Family & Justin During an Impossible Time,” was created to cover the costs of bringing Wright’s body home to New York, a funeral, and a memorial in Los Angeles . As of November 3, the fundraiser had raised $73,935 from 384 donations, according to Soap Central . The original goal was $50,000 .
The fundraiser description explained that Wright’s husband, father, sister, and niece were in New York and “desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye.” It also noted that both Wright and his husband Justin were laid off from the production company in summer 2026, making the unexpected costs impossible for the family to handle .
“As many of you know, Matt & Justin were both laid off this summer. And the unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.”
Any remaining funds after expenses will go into a trust for Wright’s niece Sami, whom the organizers called his “pride and joy” .
Ellen DeGeneres Shares Tearful Tribute
Ellen DeGeneres posted a tearful video on Instagram on Monday, November 2, remembering Wright. She called him “the glue to our entire family” at the show .
“He was an amazing guy. He was funny. God, he made me laugh. 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. And it’s just shocking — it’s shocking.”
DeGeneres also said she and Wright were planning to work on a new project together before his death . She ended her video with a montage of Wright’s funniest moments on the show, including clips from “Strong Opinions With Matt” .
TMZ reported that DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe . Allison Holker Boss, the widow of former Ellen DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, donated $500 . Former Ellen executive producer Andy Lassner and Dancing with the Stars executive producer Conrad Green each gave $1,000 .
Andy Lassner and Jennifer Hudson Pay Tribute
Andy Lassner, who worked with Wright on Ellen, shared photos on Instagram of the two of them on the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show just hours before Wright died .
“These photos were taken Thursday, while we were taping our Halloween show. Matt came by to visit. A few hours later, he was gone. We are all in shock. He was a brilliant producer and an even better human being.”
Lassner also spoke about Wright’s devotion to his mother, flying back and forth from Los Angeles to New York almost every weekend before she died . He added, “We should have had so much more time with him” .
Jennifer Hudson remembered Wright in an Instagram post on November 2. Wright helped launch The Jennifer Hudson Show after Ellen ended .
“So saddened by the loss of Matt Wright, one of our former producers who helped launch @jenniferhudsonshow. He was just back to visit on Thursday for our Halloween show! He made such a huge impact on so many people in this industry and beyond! My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Matt!”
Cause of Death Not Disclosed
Wright’s family did not share a cause of death. The GoFundMe said he died “while working remotely in Los Angeles” . Reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and People confirm that no further details were released . ABC News reached out to the fundraiser’s organizer for comment .
Wright’s 16 Years on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Wright joined The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2006 and stayed until the show’s finale in 2022 . When the show ended, he shared a post on Instagram reflecting on his time there.
“How do I even begin to sum up 16 years of my life? 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. I will forever be grateful to @theellenshow for taking a chance on me and changing my life! Here’s to an amazing run!”
The Ellen DeGeneres Show ran for 19 years and concluded in 2022 amid an investigation by Warner Brothers into allegations of a toxic workplace culture.
You May Also Like
View all articles about
GoFundMe Page Shares a Personal Message
The fundraiser’s description included a personal note about Wright’s love of food and his habit of ordering too many appetizers for the table.
“If Matt has ever made you laugh, said an encouraging word right when you needed it, or ordered one too many appetizers for the enjoyment of the whole table, now is the time to repay the favor. Please donate what you can and share this with anyone who’s been in the orbit of Matt’s huge heart. And when you’re at dinner and see a sunset, know that Matt is looking down, loving you, but wildly disappointed in what you ordered.”
Donations to the GoFundMe continued to climb as of November 3, with the total standing at $73,935 .
For more entertainment news and updates, visit VvipTimes.
Leave a Reply