Benji Gregory, who starred in the hit TV show Alf, died at the age of 46.
Gregory’s sister Rebecca confirmed to TMZ that his body was found in his car outside a Chase Bank in Peoria, Arizona, on June 13. The outlet added that loved ones believe he was there the day before to drop off checks, fell asleep in his car and possibly died from the heat. His service dog, Hans, was also found dead in the vehicle.
According to Deadline, Gregory’s death has been confirmed by the Maricopa County coroner, but the official cause of death is still unknown.
Rebecca also told the newspaper that Gregory struggled with depression, bipolar disorder and a sleep disorder.
Camille Jazzy Jenkins, Gregory’s cousin, took to Facebook on Wednesday to pay tribute to the late actor. “In utter sadness and shock, our family has lost one of the most beloved and wonderful men in our small circle,” Jenkins wrote in her post. She also listed “heat exhaustion” as the cause of death.
“It has taken some time to process and process our loss,” the statement added. “We are not okay… but take comfort in knowing he is with his grandmothers. Please keep his sister, brother and parents in your prayers.”
Arizona has been battling oppressive heat for the past few weeks. Last month, the National Weather Service confirmed that June was the hottest month on record in the city of Phoenix, with an average temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gregory appeared in all 103 episodes of the children’s series, which ran from 1986 to 1990. It featured ALF, also known as Alien Life Form, a furry creature who is quasi-adopted by the Tanner family, whose house his spaceship hit. Gregory played Brian Tanner, the family’s son. His appearance on the series was his last acting job, and, according to TMZ, he later became a serviceman in the Navy. He was honorably discharged in 2005.
In a 2022 YouTube interview on the BTM Legends Corner channel, Gregory spoke more about his time on the sitcom. “I actually can’t remember a single moment or anything like that where I became aware of Alf a huge success. I remember they got the Nielsen ratings the day after they were released, so we were always competing with a show called Big father“We won that spot the most,” Gregory added.