The 46-year-old actor, best known for his portrayal of Brian Tanner on the popular 1980s sitcom, is believed to have fallen asleep and died of heatstroke in a parking lot in Arizona.
- July 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - Benji Gregory, best known for his portrayal of Brian Tanner on the popular 1980s sitcom "ALF", has passed away at the age of 46. On June 13, Gregory was found deceased in his car located in a Chase Bank parking lot in Peoria, Arizona, according to TMZ.
Sources close to the actor believe that he may have fallen asleep in his vehicle after visiting the bank to deposit checks the previous day. They speculate that he succumbed to vehicular heatstroke amid the extreme temperatures in Arizona, which reached 109 degrees on June 12. Tragically, his service dog Hans was also found deceased in the car.
Gregory's cause of death is still under investigation by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office. His sister Rebecca Hertzberg-Pfaffinger has revealed that he struggled with depression, bipolar disorder and a sleep disorder that kept him awake for extended periods.
From 1986 to 1990, Gregory starred in over 100 episodes of "ALF", a beloved sitcom that followed the adventures of a furry alien named Gordon Shumway who crash-landed in the Tanner family's garage. Gregory played the middle son Brian, who befriended the titular extraterrestrial.
Following his role in "ALF", Gregory continued to act on various TV shows and commercials. He also voiced Biff Tannen Jr. on the animated "Back to the Future" series. After leaving the entertainment industry in 2003, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served as an aerographer's mate and received an honorable medical discharge in 2005.
Gregory's sister urges donations in his memory to The Actors Equity Foundation or the ASPCA. His loss has been met with sadness and shock by his family, friends and fans worldwide.
