Michael Wright, the actor best known for playing Eddie King Jr. in “The Five Heartbeats,” has died in Los Angeles.
Wright died Wednesday, August 19, 2026. According to TMZ, he had been suffering from heart problems and Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare neurological condition.
The Hollywood actor had a career that spanned several decades.
On Friday, Wright’s wife, Susan Wright, confirmed his death in an emotional Instagram post shared by public figure Madina Milana.
In the post, Susan said she was deeply saddened by the loss of her husband, Michael Wright.
She described him as a husband, father, grandfather, loved one, friend and extraordinary artist whose work touched generations.
She said many people knew and loved Wright through his work in “The Five Heartbeats,” “The Wanderers,” “V,” “The Principal,” “Streamers” and many other roles throughout his career.
She said his talent and contributions to film and television would live on, but added that to those who knew him personally, he was much more than the characters he played.
Susan also asked the public and media to give the family privacy as they mourned their loss. She thanked everyone for the love, prayers, memories and condolences being shared.
The family also requested that people avoid sharing unconfirmed information or speaking on their behalf. Susan said more details about Wright’s life, legacy and plans to honor him would be shared when the family was ready.
Michael Wright was born in New York City in 1956 and made his acting debut in the late 1970s at around the age of 23.
He was best known for playing Eddie King Jr. in the 1991 musical drama “The Five Heartbeats.”
