Benji Gregory, Star of ’80s Sitcom ‘Alf,’ Dies at 46

Benji Gregory, the former child actor renowned for his role as Brian Tanner in the 1980s sitcom Alf, has passed away at the age of 46.

The actor’s death was reported on June 13, as per the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to TMZ. The exact cause of his death is still pending.

Gregory was found deceased in his vehicle in a parking lot outside a bank in Peoria, Arizona, his sister Rebecca disclosed to the outlet. He was accompanied by his service dog, a pug named Hans, who also passed away. His sister mentioned that Benji had been battling depression, bipolar disorder, and a sleep disorder.

Those who knew Gregory suspect he might have succumbed to a heatstroke. They believe he fell asleep in his car after depositing residual checks, TMZ reported.

Gregory’s portrayal of Brian, the Tanner family’s son, endeared him to many during the more than 100 episodes of Alf, which aired from 1986 to 1990. The sitcom followed the quirky escapades of Gordon Shumway, nicknamed Alf (“Alien Life Form”), a furry extraterrestrial from the planet Melmac who crash-lands his spaceship into the Tanners’ garage. The family then goes on to keep Alf hidden in their suburban home from both the government’s Alien Task Force and their inquisitive neighbors in California’s San Fernando Valley.

The Tanner family, alongside Gregory’s character Brian, consisted of social worker Willie (played by Max Wright), his wife Kate (Anne Schedeen), their daughter Lynn (Andrea Elson), and their cat Lucky, whom Alf found particularly tempting.

Beyond his tenure on Alf, Gregory appeared in various other television shows, including Murphy Brown, The A-Team, The Twilight Zone, and Punky Brewster, contributing to his diverse acting career.

Source: TMZ