‘Alf’ Star Max Wright Dies at 75 After Lengthy Battle With Cancer

Max Wright, the American actor and star of the 80’s sitcom ‘Alf,’ has passed away at the age of 75 after battling with cancer for over two decades, according to reports.

Wright, who was well known for his role as Willie Tanner on the hit comedy show, died on June 26 at his California residence at Hermosa Beach, reported TMZ.

According to the outlet, sources said the late actor had been in remission for years after a Lymphoma diagnosis in 1995.

Wright leaves behind two children, Daisy and Ben. In 2017, he lost his wife, Linda Ybarrondo, who he married in 1965. She passed away after a battle with breast cancer.

Wright was famously known for his role as the good-natured father in ‘Alf,’ who adopts the alien life form after it crash-landed on Earth from the planet Melmac.

The popular sitcom aired from 1986 to 1990 for four seasons, and won a number of awards in its time, including The People’s Choice Award for the Favorite New TV Comedy in 1987, and The Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite TV Show in 1988.

Last year, it was rumored the series could be returning to the big screen, with TV Line reporting that a Warner Bros.’ reboot was in the initial stages of development. However, just several months later, in November 2018, the plans were halted after “failing to attract a suitor,” the outlet reported.

The late actor also starred in hit movies such as ‘The Sting II,’ ‘All That Jazz,’ ‘Soul Man,’ ‘The Shadow,’ and ‘Reds.’

Other roles included starring in ‘Friends’ for two episodes as Terry, Central Perks’s manager, as well as in ’Misfits of Science,‘ ’Buffalo Bill,‘ ’Cheers,‘ ’Norm,‘ and ’Dudley.’

Born in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, Wright’s career spanned decades from 1974, with his last role as Uncle Joe in the 2005 movie ‘Back to Norm.’

Despite ‘Alf’ pushing Wright into the spotlight, the actor had revealed to PEOPLE that he didn’t enjoy starring in the show, and looked forward to the end of its filming.

“It was hard work and very grim. I was hugely eager to have it over with,” he told the publication in 2000.

The late actor told PEOPLE that he wasn’t happy playing a supporting role to a puppet.

“Max had a difficult thing to do, playing straight man against ALF,” the show’s co-creator, Paul Fusco said, but added the two characters had “great chemistry.”

After the final scene for ‘Alf’ was filmed, Wright’s co-star, Anne Schedeen, told PEOPLE he “…walked off the set, went to his dressing room, got his bags, went to his car and disappeared.”

When he received his devastating cancer diagnosis in 1995, Wright told the outlet, “It was very scary. I was sort of numb about it.”

But he re-found his love for acting after starring as a county health inspector in ‘Grumpier Old Men.’

“I came back to life after being on the edge, with a tremendous gusto for the things I love,” he recalled.

Speaking about ‘Alf’ five years on from his cancer diagnosis, Wright told PEOPLE, “It doesn’t matter what I felt or what the days were like.

“ALF brought people a lot of joy. They adored it.”