Michael Wright, beloved ‘Five Heartbeats’ and ‘Sugar Hill’ star, dies at 70
TheGrio...
The actor’s family says he died after heart failure and complications from a rare neurological disease.
Michael Wright, who had one of Black cinema’s most memorable performances as Eddie King Jr. in Robert Townsend’s 1991 musical drama “The Five Heartbeats,” has died. He was 70.
Wright’s death comes 35 years after the release of the film that made him a favorite. TheGrio previously celebrated the film’s legacy and a much-hyped reunion of the cast at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021.
“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” Wright’s husband, Susan, wrote on social media, confirming his passing. “Our family is grieving an enormous and deeply personal loss. We understand how much Michael meant to so many people, and we are grateful for the love, prayers, memories, and condolences already being shared.”
She added, “We respectfully ask the public, members of the media, and those who knew and admired Michael to please allow our family the privacy and grace to grieve during this incredibly difficult time. We also ask that people refrain from sharing unconfirmed information or speaking on behalf of our family.”
According to TMZ, the actor died Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Los Angeles after suffering heart failure along with complications from Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare neurological disorder.
Born April 30, 1956, in New York City, Wright began his screen career with the 1979 film “The Wanderers.” He later appeared in “Streamers,” “The Principal,” “Sugar Hill,” “Money Talks,” “Piñero” and “The Interpreter,” along with television roles in “V,” “Miami Vice,” “Scrubs,” and HBO’s “Oz.”
His defining role arrived in “The Five Heartbeats,” where he played Eddie King Jr., the gifted but troubled lead singer of a fictional 1960s R&B group. The film, directed and co-written by Townsend, developed a lasting following after its 1991 release, with Wright’s performance becoming one of its most quoted and remembered elements.
Wright also earned international recognition for “Streamers.” He shared the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1983 Venice Film Festival with Matthew Modine, David Alan Grier, Mitchell Lichtenstein, Guy Boyd and George Dzundza for their ensemble performances.
In 2011, celebrating the film’s 20th anniversary, he reunited with cast members Tico Wells, Léon and Townsend at the BET Awards that year, with many still raving about his performance in the 1991 film and other notable character work, from 1993’s “Sugar Hill” to 1997’s “Money Talks” alongside Chris Tucker.
