Matthew Wright, executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, died suddenly at 52. Ellen paid an emotional tribute, revealing plans for a new project. A GoFundMe raised for his family has drawn donations—and scrutiny over why a veteran producer needed help.
Matthew Wright, the executive producer who helped shape The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, died suddenly on October 30 at 52 while working remotely in Los Angeles. The cause of death has not been publicly confirmed. Ellen DeGeneres, who hosted the show from 2006 to 2022, shared a tearful video tribute on Instagram on November 2, recalling their long collaboration and revealing they had recently been planning a new project together.
‘He was an amazing guy,’ she said, fighting back tears. ‘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.’ She described him as the person who held the team together, calling him ‘the glue’ to the entire family at the show. Wright also appeared frequently on camera in the recurring segment ‘Strong Opinions with Matt’, where his sharp wit and warmth became a staple of the program’s rhythm.
His career began in 2002 on the SoapNet series Soap Talk, and he later contributed to Ellen’s Game of Games (2017–18) and her 2009 special Ellen’s Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Andy Lassner, another longtime executive producer on the show, shared a post on social media confirming he’d seen Wright just hours before his death — he had visited the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show during its Halloween episode.
Lassner remembered him as a brilliant producer and an even better human being, highlighting his deep care for his mother, whom he flew to New York to visit every weekend until her passing. ‘The way he looked after his mom… showed what an incredible son he was,’ Lassner wrote. ‘He gave that same depth of love to his friendships.’ Wright’s husband, Justin Fusella, and other family members were laid off this summer, leaving them unable to cover the sudden costs of bringing his body home to New York, arranging a funeral, and holding a memorial in Los Angeles.
A GoFundMe fundraiser established by the family describes the situation as an ‘unfathomable tragedy’. It states that Wright and Justin were both let go this summer, and the unexpected financial burden is overwhelming. The campaign lists donations from Ellen DeGeneres ($5,000), Andy Lassner ($1,000), Allison Holker Boss (widow of tWitch, $500), and Conrad Green ($1,000).
Any remaining funds will go into a trust for Wright’s niece, Sami. Former co-host Loni Love also shared condolences. The outpouring of support is heartfelt, but it has sparked debate online. Some question why a veteran EP with a 16-year tenure on a major network show would need public fundraising.
Others argue that without knowing the full financial picture, judgment is premature. No one disputes the loss. But the silence where Wright used to be, where his laughter once cut through the studio noise, is now louder than ever.
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