Max Wright (Willie Tanner) Dies At 75 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MikeLutton · 06-26-2019, 07:17 PM

https://www.tmz.com/2019/06/26/max-w...d-dies-cancer/

Max Wright, who famously played the father on the 80s hit sitcom "ALF" -- died Wednesday ... TMZ has learned.

Family sources tell TMZ ... the actor passed away in his home in Hermosa Beach, CA ... just outside Los Angeles. We're told Max had battled cancer for years. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 1995, but had been in remission for a long time.

Max was a veteran TV star whose most popular role was as Willie Tanner on the puppet-led sitcom -- which ran for 4 seasons on NBC. He's also known for acting in shows like "Buffalo Bill," "Cheers," "Misfits of Science," "Dudley" and "Norm.

He also starred in a ton of movies -- "All That Jazz," "Reds," "The Sting II," "Soul Man," "The Shadow" and several others. All in all, Max had more than 60 credits to his name, dating back to 1974.

His wife, Linda Ybarrondo, to whom he was married since 1965, died in 2017 from breast cancer. They had 2 children together.

Max's costar Michu Meszaros -- who played the main character, ALF (Alien Life Form for those not in the know) -- in the early seasons ... passed away in June 2016 at the age of 76.

Max was 75 years old.

RIP

Greenbeans · 06-26-2019, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

https://www.tmz.com/2019/06/26/max-w...d-dies-cancer/

Max Wright, who famously played the father on the 80s hit sitcom "ALF" -- died Wednesday ... TMZ has learned.

Family sources tell TMZ ... the actor passed away in his home in Hermosa Beach, CA ... just outside Los Angeles. We're told Max had battled cancer for years. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 1995, but had been in remission for a long time.

Max was a veteran TV star whose most popular role was as Willie Tanner on the puppet-led sitcom -- which ran for 4 seasons on NBC. He's also known for acting in shows like "Buffalo Bill," "Cheers," "Misfits of Science," "Dudley" and "Norm.

He also starred in a ton of movies -- "All That Jazz," "Reds," "The Sting II," "Soul Man," "The Shadow" and several others. All in all, Max had more than 60 credits to his name, dating back to 1974.

His wife, Linda Ybarrondo, to whom he was married since 1965, died in 2017 from breast cancer. They had 2 children together.

Max's costar Michu Meszaros -- who played the main character, ALF (Alien Life Form for those not in the know) -- in the early seasons ... passed away in June 2016 at the age of 76.

Max was 75 years old.

RIP

Sad to see this. From what I have read over the years, he had a pretty tortured life. He also hated Alf. It was apparently a nightmare to film.

Wildchats · 06-26-2019, 09:24 PM

Such a talented performer and so underrated. Wish he did a lot more after the show ended.

My childhood was spent watching first run episodes my Dad taped of ALF for me on VHS. This will always be one of my favorite shows and Willie was for sure one of the top TV Dad's out there. His relationship with ALF was amazing and it was so sad to see how the series ended. Wish it had gone on another season, or at least, we got a glimpse of the Tanners in the 1996 film. Would have loved to see them with ALF again.

Remember, BEFORE we had Danny Tanner we had Willie Tanner one year before him! Danny Tanner may probably get tops out of best Dad of the 2, but Willie was also something special himself!

MrCleveland · 06-26-2019, 09:37 PM

I liked Wright on Norm.

MikeLutton · 06-26-2019, 11:47 PM

better final would have been the tanners n Alf go to Melmac together instead of alf being caught by the task force

AB · 06-27-2019, 06:36 PM

May he rest in peace.

MA · 06-28-2019, 03:01 PM

Rest in peace.

80sTrivia · 06-29-2019, 06:56 AM

Just read the blog post here about his death. So sad to hear of his passing...

TMC · 02-28-2026, 06:29 PM

Quote:

America loved him as the gentle TV father on ALF.

But behind the studio lights, Max Wright was unraveling.

A classically trained stage actor reduced to reacting to a puppet.

A cancer survivor fighting private demons.

A double life that ended in a crack house — and a tabloid explosion that erased him overnight.

This isn’t just a fall from fame.

It’s the anatomy of humiliation in Hollywood.

Dude111 · 03-01-2026, 08:55 AM

Very sad!!!

06-26-2019, 07:17 PM	#1
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,873	Max Wright (Willie Tanner) Dies At 75 https://www.tmz.com/2019/06/26/max-w...d-dies-cancer/ Max Wright, who famously played the father on the 80s hit sitcom "ALF" -- died Wednesday ... TMZ has learned. Family sources tell TMZ ... the actor passed away in his home in Hermosa Beach, CA ... just outside Los Angeles. We're told Max had battled cancer for years. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 1995, but had been in remission for a long time. Max was a veteran TV star whose most popular role was as Willie Tanner on the puppet-led sitcom -- which ran for 4 seasons on NBC. He's also known for acting in shows like "Buffalo Bill," "Cheers," "Misfits of Science," "Dudley" and "Norm. He also starred in a ton of movies -- "All That Jazz," "Reds," "The Sting II," "Soul Man," "The Shadow" and several others. All in all, Max had more than 60 credits to his name, dating back to 1974. His wife, Linda Ybarrondo, to whom he was married since 1965, died in 2017 from breast cancer. They had 2 children together. Max's costar Michu Meszaros -- who played the main character, ALF (Alien Life Form for those not in the know) -- in the early seasons ... passed away in June 2016 at the age of 76. Max was 75 years old. RIP
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06-26-2019, 09:24 PM	#3
Wildchats Me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,075	Such a talented performer and so underrated. Wish he did a lot more after the show ended. My childhood was spent watching first run episodes my Dad taped of ALF for me on VHS. This will always be one of my favorite shows and Willie was for sure one of the top TV Dad's out there. His relationship with ALF was amazing and it was so sad to see how the series ended. Wish it had gone on another season, or at least, we got a glimpse of the Tanners in the 1996 film. Would have loved to see them with ALF again. Remember, BEFORE we had Danny Tanner we had Willie Tanner one year before him! Danny Tanner may probably get tops out of best Dad of the 2, but Willie was also something special himself!
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06-26-2019, 09:37 PM	#4
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I liked Wright on Norm.
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06-28-2019, 03:01 PM	#7
MA Member Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: May 20, 2017 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127,193	Rest in peace.
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06-29-2019, 06:56 AM	#8
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Just read the blog post here about his death. So sad to hear of his passing...
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06-26-2019, 11:47 PM	#5
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,873	better final would have been the tanners n Alf go to Melmac together instead of alf being caught by the task force

06-27-2019, 06:36 PM	#6
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	May he rest in peace.

03-01-2026, 08:55 AM	#10
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,674	Very sad!!!