Max Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Max Wright
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Wright as he appeared in 1988 on ALF
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| Born |
George Edward Wright
August 2, 1943 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | June 26, 2019 (aged 75) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2011 |
| Spouse(s) |
Linda Ybarrondo
(m. 1965; |
| Children | 2 |
Max Wright was an American actor. He was born George Edward Wright on August 2, 1943, and passed away on June 26, 2019. Max was best known for playing Willie Tanner in the popular TV show ALF from 1986 to 1990.
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Max Wright's Early Life
Max Wright was born George Edward Wright in Detroit, Michigan, on August 2, 1943. He chose the name "Max" because other actors were already named George Wright.
As a child, he moved to Southfield, a suburb of Detroit. He graduated from Southfield Senior High School in 1961. During his time in high school, Max was very involved in the school's theater program. He even played the main roles in two different musical plays.
Max Wright's Acting Career
Max Wright had a long career in both movies, television, and on stage. He started acting in 1968 and continued until 2011.
Movies and TV Shows
Max Wright appeared in many different television shows. Some of these included WKRP in Cincinnati and The Norm Show. He was also a regular actor on shows like Misfits of Science, AfterMASH, and Buffalo Bill.
He also appeared in the TV movie The Stand, which was based on a book by Stephen King. Max Wright played Terry, the manager of Central Perk, in the first two seasons of the popular sitcom Friends. He also played real-life people in other shows, like Günter Wendt in From the Earth to the Moon and Dr. Josef Mengele in Playing for Time.
Playing Willie Tanner in ALF
From 1986 to 1990, Max Wright starred in the sitcom ALF. He played Willie Tanner, a father whose family finds an alien who has crash-landed on Earth. Even though this was his most famous role, Max Wright didn't always enjoy it.
He found the show very difficult to film because of the many technical challenges. He also felt that he, a human actor, was playing a supporting role to a puppet alien. In an interview in 2000, he said, "It was hard work and very grim." He was reportedly very happy when the show ended in 1990. His co-star, Anne Schedeen, even said that one day he just left the set, got his bags, and drove away without saying goodbye.
However, as time passed, Max Wright looked back at ALF with less anger. He later said that "ALF brought people a lot of joy," no matter how he felt about filming it.
Stage Performances
Besides movies and TV, Max Wright also had a successful career in theater. In 1968, he was in the first show of The Great White Hope in Washington, D.C.
In 1998, he performed on Broadway in a play called Ivanov. For this role, he was nominated for a Tony Award, which is a very important award for theater actors. He also played Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In later years, he acted in plays at the JET (Jewish Ensemble Theatre) in Detroit and the American Repertory Theater. He also performed in The Winter's Tale and The Merchant of Venice as part of the Shakespeare in the Park festivals in 2010.
Max Wright's Personal Life
Max Wright was married to Linda Ybarrondo. They were married in 1965 and stayed together until Linda passed away in 2017. She died from breast cancer. Max and Linda had two children together.
Max Wright's Passing
In 1995, Max Wright was diagnosed with lymphoma, which is a type of cancer. He was successfully treated, and the cancer stayed away for many years. However, the disease returned in 2019. Max Wright passed away from lymphoma on June 26, 2019. He was 75 years old and died at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey.
Images for kids
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Max Wright in 1988
