Michael Wright, the actor best known for starring in “The Five Heartbeats” and “V,” has died. He was 70 years old.
Wright’s wife Susan Wright shared the news on Instagram late Friday, writing that his “work will live forever” and he “will be missed beyond words.”
“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” Susan wrote. “Michael was a husband, a father (Manon Wright, Byron Barr, Brittney Briggs, Brianna Barr, Sir Barr), a grandfather (Yoko), loved one, a friend, and an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations.
“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.”
Read the post in full below:
The actor died Wednesday in Los Angeles after complications from a rare degenerative neurological disease called Marchiafava-Bignami sent him into heart failure, the Wright family told TMZ in a statement.
Michael Wright’s first film role was 1979’s “The Wanderers,” but his breakout came with 1983 limited series “V,” starring as Elias Turner. He reprised the role for the sci-fi drama’s 1984 follow-up “V: The Final Battle” and from 1984–85 in the “V” television series.
According to IMDb, Wright’s final role was in 2025’s “Dope King.”
In her announcement of his passing Friday, Susan Wright wrote, “Our family is grieving an enormous and deeply personal loss. We understand how much Michael meant to so many people, and we are grateful for the love, prayers, memories, and condolences already being shared.”
She asked the public and news media to allow “privacy and grace” as they grieve Michael’s death and said to expect more information “regarding Michael’s life, legacy, and how we intend to honor and celebrate him” in the coming days.
“Michael, your work will live forever, but your love will live even longer in the hearts of those who knew you best,” Susan concluded. “Rest peacefully, my love. You will be missed beyond words.”
Michael is survived by his wife Susan, five children and a grandchild.
