Sugar Hill and The Five Heartbeats star Michael Wright has died. He was 70.
“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” Michael’s wife, Susan Wright, wrote in an Instagram statement shared Friday, August 21, announcing the actor’s death. “Michael was a husband, a father, a grandfather, loved one, a friend and an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations.”
Susan continued, “Many knew and loved him through The Five Heartbeats, The Wanderers, V, The Principal, Streamers, and the many other characters he brought to life throughout his remarkable career. His talent, presence and contributions to film and television will live on, but to those of us who loved him personally, he was so much more than the roles the world knew him for. Our family is grieving an enormous and deeply personal loss.”
In addition to Susan, Michael is survived by his five kids and one grandchild.
“We understand how much Michael meant to so many people, and we are grateful for the love, prayers, memories and condolences already being shared,” Susan continued in her statement. “We respectfully ask the public, members of the media and those who knew and admired Michael to please allow our family the privacy and grace to grieve during this incredibly difficult time.”
She concluded, “Michael, your work will live forever, but your love will live even longer in the hearts of those who knew you best. Rest peacefully, my love. You will be missed beyond words.”
TMZ reported on Saturday, August 22, that Michael died after suffering heart failure and complications of Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare degenerative neurological condition.
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Michael’s family has not further disclosed his apparent diagnosis, which the National Institute of Health characterizes as a rare disorder defined by necrosis of brain tissue.
Michael is best known for roles in Sugar Hill, The Five Heartbeats, The Principal, V, Streamers, Dope King and two episodes of The CW’s Black Lightning.
“The greatest sin an actor can commit, is to fail to be interesting. I always try to make my characters interesting. I want you to be riveted and wonder what’s going on behind my eyes,” he told Sheen magazine in 2021. “You work from the general, you know, to the specific, then you go moment for moment, beat for beat and try to imbue everything with true and honest emotional content if you will.”
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