Michael Wright, the veteran and beloved actor best known for his role in the beloved 1991 movie The Five Heartbeats, has died at age 70.
Wright’s wife, Susan, confirmed his death Friday evening in an emotional Instagram statement.
“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” she wrote.
A cause of death has not yet been publicly revealed.
Wright was widely known for playing Eddie King Jr. in Robert Townsend’s musical drama The Five Heartbeats.
The film became a cult favorite and helped make Wright a familiar face to generations of movie fans.
His career stretched across nearly five decades and included numerous roles in both film and television.
One of his most acclaimed performances came in the 1983 movie Streamers.
Wright’s work in that film earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.
His wife said the family plans to share more details about his life and legacy in the coming days.
“In the coming days, when we are ready, we will share additional information regarding Michael’s life, legacy, and how we intend to honor and celebrate him,” she wrote.
Wright leaves behind a long career filled with memorable performances, but for many fans, he will always be remembered as Eddie King Jr. from The Five Heartbeats.
More details about his death and memorial plans are expected to be released by his family.
