Ellen DeGeneres’ producer Matthew Wright’s cause of death has been revealed after his sudden death at the age of 52.
The producer — who worked on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for 16 years — died from cardiopulmonary arrest on Oct. 30, per a death certificate obtained by People.
Hypertension was listed as an underlying cause, with obstructive sleep apnea and Class II obesity noted as contributing factors to his death.
DeGeneres, 68, reflected on Wright’s death in an Instagram video posted on Nov. 2.
“God, he was an amazing guy,” she shared. “He made me laugh; he would surprise me with things he did all the time.”
“He was smart, he was kind … I mean, everyone loved him,” she continued. “I loved him. And it’s just shocking, it’s shocking.”
Wright passed in “an unfathomable tragedy” while working remotely in Los Angeles, according to a GoFundMe set up to help his husband, Justin, and his family pay for funeral costs.
“As many of you know, Matt & Justin were both laid off this summer,” the fundraiser page reads. “And the unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.“
DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the fundraiser; however, her donation sparked debate online when social media users noted that the comedian could have “wiped out” the entire $50,000 goal — which was reached and surpassed as of Tuesday morning after nearly 400 donations.
Wright began his work on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2006 and remained until it ended in 2022.
The producer appeared on the talk show multiple times, often partaking in humorous bits.
In her Instagram post, DeGeneres shared highlights of his appearances over the years, including a recurring segment called “Strong Opinions with Matt.”
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was rocked by scandal in 2020, when 10 former employees accused the host of creating a “toxic” on-set atmosphere of “racism, fear, and intimidation.”
DeGeneres later addressed the claims on camera and apologized to the people affected, but stressed she was still “the person you see on TV.”
The show wrapped two years after its alleged toxic set atmosphere made rampant headlines.
DeGeneres addressed the drama in her 2024 “For Your Approval” comedy special, admitting “the thought of anyone thinking that [she’s] mean was devastating” and “consumed [her] for a long time.”
“After a lifetime of caring, I just can’t anymore. So I don’t,” the comedian added.
DeGeneres, who has been living in England with wife Portia de Rossi since late 2024, insisted she is “happy not being a boss or a brand or a billboard, just a person.”
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