Vale: Benji Gregory
Benji Gregory, best known as a child star on ALF, has died.
- Published by David Knox
- on
Benji Gregory, best known as a child star on ALF, has died aged 46.
US reports state he was found in his car at a parking lot in Arizona on June 13 but a cause of death has not yet been determined.
Gregory played middle son Brian Tanner on 101 episodes of ALF from 1986-90, nicknamed ‘B’ by the rest of the cast.
The sitcom followed the earthly adventures of a furry alien from the planet Melmac who crashes his spaceship into the Tanners’ garage. Nicknamed ALF (for Alien Life Form) and voiced by Paul Fusco, the creature regularly dropped wisecracks about suburban life. In the pilot episode ALF is seen consuming a beer with Brian.
Gregory left entertainment in 2003 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, later becoming an aerographer’s mate. In 2005, he received an honorable medical discharge from the Navy.
His sister, Rebecca, confirmed that her brother suffered from depression and bipolar disorder and had a sleep disorder that often kept him awake for days.
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Source: Deadline
- Tagged with Alf
5 Responses
Sad to read this David, it lovely to reminisce on a bit of an ALF clip….used to love watching this show with my brother as a child.
People elsewhere blaming BG for his service dog dying too — and saying that the dog matters more than BG — feels like blaming Judith Barsi for what she did to her cat.
Another sad Former Child Actor premature death. There is clearly something attached to early fame and its subsequent loss that badly affects some people.
It’s why these are important to report. Not everyone copes with the rise and falls, including children in talent competitions as well as scripted.
Look at the moral panic after JonBenet and later after “Toddlers and Tiaras” — few people — even on the left — wanted to listen to the girls who actually are and were child beauty queens.