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Max Wright
Wright as he appeared in 1988 on ALF
Born	George Edward Wright (1943-08-02)August 2, 1943 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	June 26, 2019(2019-06-26) (aged 75) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1968–2011
Spouse	Linda Ybarrondo ​ ​(m. 1965; died 2017)​
Children	2

George Edward "Max" Wright (August 2, 1943 – June 26, 2019) was an American actor, known for his role as Willie Tanner on the sitcom ALF (1986–1990).

Early life

Wright was born August 2, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan, as George Edward Wright. He took the nickname "Max" as other actors were already known as George Wright.

He moved to the suburb of Southfield as a child, graduating from Southfield Senior High School in 1961. While a student at Southfield, he was very active in the theatre program and had leads in two different musical productions.

Career

Film and television

Wright made supporting appearances on television shows such as WKRP in Cincinnati, and was a regular cast member on Misfits of Science, AfterMASH, Buffalo Bill, and The Norm Show, and the made-for-TV adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand. He appeared in the first and second seasons of the sitcom Friends as Terry, the manager of Central Perk. He played Günter Wendt in the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon and Dr. Josef Mengele in Playing for Time.

ALF

From 1986 to 1990, Wright appeared in the sitcom ALF as Willie Tanner, a typical father of a middle-class family, who finds an alien who has crash-landed on Earth. Despite becoming his best-known performance, the actor despised the role due to its huge technical demands and the fact that he, a human, played a supporting character for an "inanimate object". "It was hard work and very grim", he stated in a 2000 interview to People. He was also, reportedly, very happy when the show was canceled in 1990. "I was hugely eager to have it over with", he said in the same interview. According to his co-star in the show, Anne Schedeen, "there was one take, and Max walked off the set, went to his dressing room, got his bags, went to his car, and disappeared. Nobody had to say, 'Wrap,' and there were no goodbyes". However, Wright later admitted that as the years passed he looked back at ALF with less animosity and conceded that "It doesn't matter what I felt or what the days were like, ALF brought people a lot of joy."

Stage

Wright also had a stage career. In 1968, he appeared in the original production of The Great White Hope at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. In 1998, he appeared on Broadway in Ivanov, which garnered him a Tony nomination, and played Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In 2007, he acted at the JET (Jewish Ensemble Theatre) in Detroit and in the production of No Man's Land at the American Repertory Theater. He also appeared in The Public Theater's 2010 production of The Winter's Tale and The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare in the Park festivals.

Personal life

Wright was married to Linda Ybarrondo from 1965 until her death from breast cancer in 2017. The couple had two children.

Death

In 1995, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, which was successfully treated and remained in remission until 2019. He died from the disease on June 26, 2019, at the age of 75 at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey.

Filmography

Film

Television

Source:

Stage

References

1. ^ Padnani, Amisha (July 2, 2019). "Max Wright, Who Went From Theater Roles to 'ALF,' Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
2. ^ Legaspi, Althea (June 27, 2019). "Max Wright, 'Alf' Star and Veteran Actor, Dead at 75". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
3. ^ Alexander, Bryan (June 27, 2019). "Max Wright, who played Willie Tanner on TV's 'ALF', dies at 75". USA Today. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
4. Didymus, John Thomas (June 27, 2019). "ALF star Max Wright dead at 75: Cause of death linked to cancer". Monsters & Critics. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
5. ^ "Max Wright: Star of Alf and Buffalo Bill dies aged 75". BBC. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
6. Clark, Anne Victoria (June 26, 2019). "ALF Star Max Wright Has Passed Away". Vulture. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
7. ^ "Max Wright". TV Guide. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
8. "Playing for Time". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
9. ^ "Alf: 1986–1990". People. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
10. Gans, Andrew (June 27, 2019). "Max Wright, Tony Nominee and Dad on TV's Alf, Dies at 75". Playbill. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
11. "A beautiful production opens JET season". pridesource.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
12. "No Man's Land". americanrepertorytheater.org.
13. "The Public Theater's website". Publictheater.org. August 22, 2006. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
14. Haring, Bruce (June 26, 2019). "Max Wright Dies: Father On '80s Sitcom 'Alf' Was 75". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
15. ^ Merrett, Robyn (June 26, 2019). "ALF Star Max Wright Dies at 75 Following Decades-Long Battle with Lymphoma". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
16. Anderson, Natasha (June 26, 2019). "Report: 'Alf' star Max Wright passes away at 75". WJW. Cleveland: Tribune Broadcasting. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
17. Barnes, Mike (June 26, 2019). "Max Wright, Who Played the Dad on 'ALF,' Dies at 75". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
18. Bloom, Murray Teigh (1977). The 13th Man. London: Macmillan Publishers. ASIN B001KJ8SYU.
19. "Going to the Chapel". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango Media. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
20. Guterson, David (1995). Snow Falling on Cedars (1st ed.). New York City: Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0679764021.
21. McCarthy, Todd (April 23, 2003). "Easter". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
22. "The Great White Hope – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
23. ^ "Max Wright – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Databse. The Broadway League. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
24. Barnes, Clive (September 20, 1971). "Stage: Langham Revitalizes the Guthrie Theater". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
25. ^ Bergkvist, Robert (June 23, 1978). "New Face: Max Wright". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
26. ^ "Production History" (PDF). Arena Stage. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
27. Novick, Julius (July 14, 1974). "Two Plays at Washington's Arena Stage About the Work Ethic". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
28. Barnes, Clive (June 8, 1975). "Theater: Soviet 'Ascent'". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
29. Barnes, Clive (March 2, 1976). "Stage: Arena Troupe Revives 'Heartbreak House'". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
30. Sekerke, Christine (April 1, 1976). "At Arena Stage: Audience Waits". The Hatchet. No. 13. George Washington University. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
31. Barnes, Clive (February 18, 1977). "Stage: A 'Cherry Orchard' That Celebrates Genius". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
32. "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
33. "Stages – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
34. "The Inspector General – Broadway Play – 1978 Revival". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
35. Eder, Richard (June 15, 1979). "Drama: Al Pacino Plays Richard III". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
36. "A Midsummer Night's Dream". American Repertory Theater. Harvard University. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
37. "Happy End". American Repertory Theater. Harvard University. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
38. "The Inspector General". American Repertory Theater. Harvard University. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
39. Rich, Frank (November 13, 1980). "Stage: Jean Kerr's 'Lunch Hour' Opens at Barrymore Theater". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
40. Gussow, Mel (August 21, 1981). "'HENRY IV, PART 1,' IN THE PARK". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
41. Gussow, Mel (June 10, 1982). "THEATER: 'FRONT PAGE' IN NEW HAVEN". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
42. Braunagel, Don (July 29, 1992). "What the Butler Saw". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
43. Taylor, Markland (December 10, 1995). "Denial". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
44. Evans, Greg (November 29, 1997). "Ivanov". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
45. Brantley, Ben (July 17, 1998). "FESTIVAL REVIEW; Addled Sailors in Sea of Love". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
46. Hofler, Robert (October 29, 1998). "The Cripple of Inishmaan". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
47. Richmond, Ray (July 6, 1999). "The Taming of the Shrew". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
48. Nichols, David C. (January 28, 2005). "Troupe embraces spirit of 'Happy End'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
49. "Paul Benedict and Max Wright to Star in A.R.T's No Man's Land". Theatermania. April 6, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
50. "No Man's Land". American Repertory Theater. Harvard University. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
51. "2008". Elliot Norton Awards. Boston Theater Critics Association. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
52. Scheck, Frank (July 1, 2010). ""Winter's Tale" good but not great in Central Park". Reuters. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
53. Brantley, Ben (June 30, 2010). "Railing at a Money-Mad World". New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

External links

• Max Wright at IMDb
• Max Wright at Find a Grave
• Max Wright at the Internet Broadway Database

• 1943 births
• 2019 deaths
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male stage actors
• American male television actors
• Deaths from cancer in New Jersey
• Deaths from lymphoma in the United States
• Male actors from Detroit
• Wabash College alumni