Producer Matthew Wright's death attributed to cardiopulmonary arrest, People reports

Matthew Wright, who produced "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" for 16 years, died on Oct. 30 at age 52. A death certificate obtained by People indicates the immediate cause was cardiopulmonary arrest, with hypertension noted as an underlying condition and obstructive sleep apnea and Class II obesity cited as contributing factors. Wright had previously been reported to have experienced heart problems.

Ellen DeGeneres posted a tribute on Instagram on Nov. 2, describing Wright as "an amazing guy" who made her laugh and was loved by many. She also donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe campaign set up to assist Wright’s husband, Justin, and their family with funeral expenses. The fundraiser, which initially sought $50,000, later exceeded $98,000.

Wright began working on the talk show in 2006 and remained until its conclusion in 2022, occasionally appearing in on-air segments such as "Strong Opinions with Matt." The show had faced allegations of a toxic workplace in 2020, which DeGeneres addressed publicly and later referenced in her 2024 comedy special.