Overview
- His wife, Susan Wright, announced his death on Instagram, saying he died Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Los Angeles.
- The family provided a cause of death to TMZ, reporting heart failure complicated by Marchiafava‑Bignami, a rare degenerative neurological disorder.
- Wright’s screen career spanned more than four decades and 50 credits, and he was best known as Eddie King Jr. in Robert Townsend’s 1991 film The Five Heartbeats.
- He received early critical recognition, sharing the Volpi Cup for Best Actor with the Streamers ensemble at the 1983 Venice Film Festival.
- Wright is survived by his wife, five children and a grandchild, colleagues and fans have posted tributes, and the family said it will share memorial plans and more details when ready.