Occupation Actor Spouse Linda Wright (m. 1965) Role Actor | Name Max Wright Years active 1974-present | |
 | ||
Full Name George Edward Maxwell Wright Nominations Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play Movies and TV shows Similar People Andrea Elson, Anne Schedeen, Benji Gregory, Paul Fusco, John LaMotta | ||
Children Daisy Wright, Ben Wright Died June 26, 2019 (aged 75) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. Nationality American Zodiac Sign Gemini | ||
George Edward Maxwell Wright (August 2, 1943 – June 26, 2019), credited professionally as Max Wright, was an American actor, best known for his role as Willie Tanner on the sitcom ALF.
Contents
- The Grave of Max Wright the Dad from Alf His Shocking Secret Life Off the Set
- MAX WRIGHT als Dr Wormser
- Career
- Personal life
- Filmography
- Death
- References
The Grave of Max Wright, the Dad from Alf | His Shocking Secret Life Off the Set
MAX WRIGHT als Dr. Wormser
Career
Wright was born in Detroit, Michigan. In addition to ALF he made appearances in TV shows such as WKRP in Cincinnati, and was a regular cast member in Misfits of Science, AfterMASH, Buffalo Bill and The Norm Show as well as appearing in the made-for-TV adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand. He appeared briefly in the first and second seasons of the sitcom Friends, as Terry, the manager of Central Perk. He played Guenter Wendt in the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon and Dr. Josef Mengele in Playing for Time.
Wright also enjoyed a stage career and acted at regional theaters around the United States. He received a Tony nomination in 1998 for Ivanov. Another Broadway appearance of note was in Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center as Sir Andrew. He was in the original production of The Great White Hope at The Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. In 2007 he acted at the JET (Jewish Ensemble Theatre) in Detroit and in the production of "No Man's Land" at the American Repertory Theater. He appeared in The Public Theater's 2010 production of Winters Tale and Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare in the Park.
Personal life
He was married to his wife Linda since 1965, with whom he had two children, Ben and Daisy. In 1995, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, which was successfully treated and remains in remission.
In January 2000, Wright was arrested for drunken driving in Los Angeles. At the time he was appearing on The Norm Show. He was sentenced to probation. Wright had another DUI arrest in 2003.
Filmography
Actor
2005
Back to Norm (TV Movie) as
Uncle Joe
1986
ALF (TV Series) as
Willie Tanner
- Original Unaired Pilot (2004) - Willie Tanner
- Consider Me Gone (1990) - Willie Tanner
- I Gotta Be Me (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Hungry Like the Wolf (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Stayin' Alive (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Mr. Sandman (1990) - Willie Tanner
- When I'm 64 (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Gimme That Old Time Religion (1990) - Willie Tanner
- True Colors (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Love on the Rocks (1990) - Willie Tanner
- Make 'em Laugh (1990) - Willie Tanner
- It's My Party (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Fever (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Happy Together (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Break Up to Make Up (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Live and Let Die (1989) - Willie Tanner
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1989) - Willie Tanner
- He Ain't Heavy, He's Willie's Brother (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Hooked on a Feeling (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Mind Games (1989) - Willie Tanner
- We're in the Money (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Lies (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Baby, Come Back (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Having My Baby (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Shake, Rattle and Roll (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Like an Old Time Movie (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Funeral for a Friend (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Torn Between Two Lovers (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Superstition (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Standing in the Shadows of Love (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Running Scared (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Baby Love (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Suspicious Minds (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Fight Back (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Hide Away (1989) - Willie Tanner
- Do You Believe in Magic? (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Alone Again, Naturally (1988) - Willie Tanner
- My Back Pages (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Changes (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Turkey in the Straw: Part 2 (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Turkey in the Straw: Part 1 (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Promises, Promises (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Stairway to Heaven (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Stop in the Name of Love (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Varsity Drag (1988) - Willie Tanner
- We Are Family (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Tequila (1988) - Willie Tanner
- I'm Your Puppet (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Movin' Out (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Hit Me with Your Best Shot (1988) - Willie Tanner
- You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog (1988) - Willie Tanner
- We Gotta Get Out of This Place (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Someone to Watch Over Me: Part 2 (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Someone to Watch Over Me: Part 1 (1988) - Willie Tanner
- We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Can I Get a Witness? (1988) - Willie Tanner
- The Boy Next Door (1988) - Willie Tanner
- ALF's Special Christmas: Part 2 (1987) - Willie Tanner
- ALF's Special Christmas: Part 1 (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Hail to the Chief (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Isn't It Romantic? (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Night Train (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Something's Wrong with Me (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Oh, Pretty Woman (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Some Enchanted Evening (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Prime Time (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Wedding Bell Blues (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Take a Look at Me Now (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Somewhere Over the Rerun (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Working My Way Back to You (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Come Fly with Me (1987) - Willie Tanner
- La Cuckaracha (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Weird Science (1987) - Willie Tanner
- The Gambler (1987) - Willie Tanner
- It Isn't Easy- Bein' Green (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Lookin' Through the Windows (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Going Out of My Head Over You (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Wild Thing (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Border Song (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Try to Remember: Part 2 (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Try to Remember: Part 1 (1987) - Willie Tanner
- I've Got a New Attitude (1987) - Willie Tanner
- A Little Bit of Soap (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Mother and Child Reunion (1987) - Willie Tanner
- Oh, Tannerbaum (1986) - Willie Tanner
- On the Road Again (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Baby, You Can Drive My Car (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Jump (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue? (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Help Me, Rhonda (1986) - Willie Tanner
- For Your Eyes Only (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Keepin' the Faith (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Pennsylvania 6-5000 (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Looking for Lucky (1986) - Willie Tanner
- Strangers in the Night (1986) - Willie Tanner
- A.L.F. (1986) - Willie Tanner
2003
A Minute with Stan Hooper (TV Series) as
The Mayor
- Stan Hooper Goes to Washington (2003) - The Mayor
2002
Easter as
Zaddock Pratt
1999
Norm (TV Series) as
Max Denby
- Norm vs. Shelly's Old Flame (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm Comes Back (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm's Free (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Cuba (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Deception (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm Is Fat (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Homelessness (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm and Wiener Dog vs. Fatherhood (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Danny and Shelley (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm Lets Go (2001) - Max Denby
- Denby Quits (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Dad (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Freud (2001) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Schoolin' (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. the Kid (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Tennis (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Youth: Part 2 (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Youth: Part 1 (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm and the Hopeless Cause (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Halloween (2000) - Max Denby
- The Norm Law (2000) - Max Denby
- Taylor Leaves (2000) - Max Denby
- I've Got a Crush on You (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. the Sacrifice (2000) - Max Denby
- Laurie Loses It (2000) - Max Denby
- Retribution (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Fear (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. the Wedding (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Fitz (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Jenny (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. the Oldest Profession (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. the Evil Twin (2000) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Christmas (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. the Boxer (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Denby (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Norm (1999) - Max Denby
- Gambling Man (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm and Shelly (1999) - Max Denby
- Laurie Runs for Office (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm and Shelly in Love (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Death (1999) - Max Denby
- Artie Comes to Town (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm Pimps Wiener Dog (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm vs. Love (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm's Coach (1999) - Max Denby
- Norm, Crusading Social Worker (1999) - Max Denby
- Drive, Norm Said (1999) - Max Denby
- Denby's Kid (1999) - Max Denby
- The New Boss (1999) - Max Denby
1999
The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) as
Drew's Stomach
- Drew's Stomachache (1999) - Drew's Stomach
1999
Snow Falling on Cedars as
Horace Whaley
1999
A Midsummer Night's Dream as
Robin Starveling
1998
Mad About You (TV Series) as
Man in Elevator
- Season Opener (1998) - Man in Elevator
1998
Twelfth Night, or What You Will (TV Movie) as
Sir Andrew Aguecheek
1998
From the Earth to the Moon (TV Mini Series) as
Guenter Wendt
- We Have Cleared the Tower (1998) - Guenter Wendt
1997
Dead by Midnight (TV Movie) as
Dr. Jonas Reilly
1996
High Incident (TV Series) as
Gass
- Change Partners (1996) - Gass
1996
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (TV Series) as
Herbie Hinkle
- You Only Scare Twice/Less Talk, More Monsters (1996) - Herbie Hinkle (voice)
1996
Early Edition (TV Series) as
Mayor Mike Garfield
- Thief Swipes Mayor's Dog (1996) - Mayor Mike Garfield
1996
The John Larroquette Show (TV Series) as
Jackson Bishop
- Some Call Them Beasts (1996) - Jackson Bishop
1995
Grumpier Old Men as
County Health Inspector
1994
Friends (TV Series) as
Terry
- The One with the Baby on the Bus (1995) - Terry
- The One Where Underdog Gets Away (1994) - Terry
1995
A Mother's Gift (TV Movie) as
Herman Mandelbrot
1994
Monty (TV Series) as
Wild, Wild Willy
- Wild, Wild Willy and His O.K. Corral (1994) - Wild, Wild Willy
1994
The Shadow as
Berger
1994
White Mile (TV Movie) as
Bill Spencer
1994
The Stand (TV Mini Series) as
Dr. Herbert Denninger
- The Stand (1994) - Dr. Herbert Denninger
- The Plague (1994) - Dr. Herbert Denninger
1993
Roc (TV Series) as
Mr. Cole
- Shove It Up Your Asprin (1993) - Mr. Cole
1993
Murphy Brown (TV Series) as
Marshall Corwin
- All the Life That's Fit to Print (1993) - Marshall Corwin
1993
Dudley (TV Series) as
Paul
- Learnin' the Blues (1993) - Paul
- Whose Therapy Is It, Anyway? (1993) - Paul
- Off the Record (1993) - Paul
- Call Me Irresponsible (1993) - Paul
- It Was a Wonderful Life (1993) - Paul
1992
The Powers That Be (TV Series) as
Justice Reynolds
- Sophie's Big Decision (1992) - Justice Reynolds
1992
Quantum Leap (TV Series) as
Doc Kinman
- Trilogy: Part 3 - July 28, 1978 (1992) - Doc Kinman
- Trilogy: Part 1 - August 8, 1955 (1992) - Doc Kinman
1992
Ghostwriter (TV Series) as
Mr. Brinker
- Who Burned Mr. Brinker's Store?: Part 4 (1992) - Mr. Brinker
- Who Burned Mr. Brinker's Store?: Part 3 (1992) - Mr. Brinker
- Who Burned Mr. Brinker's Store?: Part 2 (1992) - Mr. Brinker
- Who Burned Mr. Brinker's Store?: Part 1 (1992) - Mr. Brinker
1992
Who's the Boss? (TV Series) as
Dr. Wormser
- Allergic to Love (1992) - Dr. Wormser
1991
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) as
Gerald Yelverton
- The Taxman Cometh (1991) - Gerald Yelverton
1988
Going to the Chapel (TV Movie) as
Howard Haldane
1987
Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series) as
Prince Heinrick
- The Dancing Princesses (1987) - Prince Heinrick
1987
You Are the Jury (TV Series) as
Judge Rhodes
- The State of Oregon vs. Stanley Manning (1987) - Judge Rhodes
1986
Soul Man as
Dr. Aronson
1986
Touch and Go as
Lester
1986
Liberty (TV Movie) as
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
1986
Comedy Factory (TV Series) as
Leon Pakulski
- The Faculty (1986) - Leon Pakulski
1985
Misfits of Science (TV Series) as
Dick Stetmeyer
- Three Days of the Blender (1986) - Dick Stetmeyer
- The Avenging Angel (1986) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Against All Oz (1986) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Center of Attention (1986) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Once Upon a Night (1986) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Grand Elusion (1986) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Grand Theft Bunny (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Twin Engines (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Fumble on the One (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Steer Crazy (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Sonar- and Yet So Far (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Sort of Looking for Gina (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Lost Link (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Guess What's Coming to Dinner (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
- Your Place or Mayan (1985) - Dick Stetmeyer
1986
Cheers (TV Series) as
Jim Fleener
- Strange Bedfellows: Part 2 (1986) - Jim Fleener
- Strange Bedfellows: Part 1 (1986) - Jim Fleener
1985
Konrad (TV Movie) as
Dr. Al Monford
1985
Fraternity Vacation as
Millard Tvedt
1985
Benson (TV Series) as
Bernard
- Mid-life Cowboy (1985) - Bernard
1985
Code Name: Foxfire (TV Series)
- Slay It Again, Sam (1985)
1985
Scandal Sheet (TV Movie) as
Stan Clark
1984
E/R (TV Series) as
Marvin Brock
- Mr. Fix-It (1984) - Marvin Brock
1984
The Boy Who Loved Trolls (TV Movie) as
Secretary
1984
AfterMASH (TV Series) as
Burt Philbrick
- Less Miserables (1984) - Burt Philbrick
1984
I Gave at the Office (TV Series)
- Pilot (1984)
1983
Buffalo Bill (TV Series) as
Karl Shub
- Church of the Poisoned Mind (1984) - Karl Shub
- Have Yourself a Very Degrading Christmas (1984) - Karl Shub
- The Tap Dancer (1984) - Karl Shub
- A Hero (1984) - Karl Shub
- Buffalo Bill Versus the Kremlin (1984) - Karl Shub
- The Girl on the Jetty (1984) - Karl Shub
- The Big Freeze (1984) - Karl Shub
- Miss WBFL (1984) - Karl Shub
- Jo Jo's Problem: Part 2 (1984) - Karl Shub
- Jo Jo's Problem: Part 1 (1984) - Karl Shub
- Company Ink (1984) - Karl Shub
- The Interview (1984) - Karl Shub
- Jerry Lewis Week (1984) - Karl Shub
- Hit the Road, Newdell (1983) - Karl Shub
- The Fan (1983) - Karl Shub
- Hackles (1983) - Karl Shub
- True Love (1983) - Karl Shub
- Ratings (1983) - Karl Shub
- Below the Belt (1983) - Karl Shub
- Guess Who's Coming to Buffalo? (1983) - Karl Shub
- Wilkinson's Sword (1983) - Karl Shub
- Mrs. Buffalo Bill? (1983) - Karl Shub
- Buffalo Bill and the Movies (1983) - Karl Shub
- Woody Quits (1983) - Karl Shub
- Buffalo Beat (1983) - Karl Shub
- Pilot (1983) - Karl Shub
1983
Tales from the Darkside (TV Series) as
Mr. Bundle
- Trick or Treat (Pilot) (1983) - Mr. Bundle
1983
The Sting II as
Floor Manager
1982
Taxi (TV Series) as
Mr. Ambrose
- The Road Not Taken: Part 2 (1982) - Mr. Ambrose
1982
Code Red (TV Series)
- No Escape (1982)
1982
Open All Night (TV Series) as
Jeremy 'Duke Dizzy Zoot' Howe
- The Chicken Suit (1982) - Jeremy 'Duke Dizzy Zoot' Howe
1982
WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) as
Frank Bartman
- Circumstantial Evidence (1982) - Frank Bartman
- Pills (1982) - Frank Bartman
1982
Dangerous Company (TV Movie) as
Dr. Boone
1982
Hart to Hart (TV Series) as
Dr. Robert Chase
- Hart of Diamonds (1982) - Dr. Robert Chase
1981
Reds as
Floyd Dell
1981
For Ladies Only (TV Movie) as
Shakespeare Director
1980
Playing for Time (TV Movie) as
Dr. Mengele
1980
Simon as
Leon Hundertwasser
1979
All That Jazz as
Joshua Penn
1979
Last Embrace as
Second Commuter
1977
Red Alert (TV Movie)(uncredited)
1974
Great Performances (TV Series) as
Etienne
- In Fashion (1974) - Etienne
1974
Lincoln: Trial by Fire (TV Movie) as
Horace Greeley
Soundtrack
-
ALF (TV Series) (1 episode, 1987) (performer - 4 episodes, 1986 - 1988)
- Someone to Watch Over Me: Part 1 (1988) - (performer: "The Letter")
- Night Train (1987) - ("Taxi")
- Wild Thing (1987) - (performer: "The Lady is a Tramp" - uncredited)
- Try to Remember: Part 2 (1987) - (performer: "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" - uncredited)
- On the Road Again (1986) - (performer: "99 Bottles of Beer" - uncredited)
Self
1999
The 53rd Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Performer
1998
The 52nd Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
Archive Footage
2002
Brilliant But Cancelled (TV Movie documentary)
1988
ALF (TV Series) as
Willie Tanner
- Tonight, Tonight: Part 2 (1988) - Willie Tanner
- Tonight, Tonight: Part 1 (1988) - Willie Tanner
Death
In 1995, he received a diagnosis of lymphoma, which was effectively treated and remained in remission until 2019. He succumbed to the disease on June 26, 2019, at the age of 75, at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey.
References
Max Wright Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA