Longtime Ellen DeGeneres Show producer Matthew Wright’s cause of death has been revealed.
The executive producer, who died at age 52 on October 30, died from cardiopulmonary arrest, with hypertension listed as the underlying cause, according to a People report on Friday, November 6. The outlet reported that obstructive sleep apnea and Class II obesity were also listed as contributing conditions.
The official cause of death comes after DeGeneres shared news of the loss in an emotional video posted via her Instagram.
“So Matt Wright, who was our executive producer and was featured on our show a lot, died the other day,” DeGeneres, 68, said in the clip. “And he was an amazing guy. He was funny. God, he made me laugh.”
She continued, “He would surprise me with things that he did all the time. He was smart. He was kind. He was a part of our show that — I mean, everyone loved him. Everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking.”
DeGeneres shared that the pair were “working on a project to do together,” which she said they were “supposed to start.”
“We’re going to miss him. He is, and always will be, the glue to our entire family at The Ellen Show,” she said, before adding, “I don’t know what I’m saying. Anyway, and to Justin, his husband, and to his family, I’m so sorry. Because we lost a good guy. He was a good guy.”
A GoFundMe created by Wright’s family shared that he died “in an unfathomable tragedy” while “working remotely in Los Angeles.”
“His husband, father, sister and niece are in New York, desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye,” the message read. “We’re asking for all of his friends, who Matt loved so fully, to help the family at this time. 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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
