Benji Gregory portrayed Brian Tanner, the middle son, in over 100 episodes of ALF, which aired from 1986 to 1990.
Benji Gregory, renowned for his role as a child actor on the 1980s NBC sitcom ALF, was discovered dead on June 13. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed his death but has not yet identified the cause.
TMZ reported that Gregory was found in his car at a Chase Bank parking lot in Peoria, Arizona, along with his service dog, Hans, who was also deceased.
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Gregory’s sister, Rebecca, informed TMZ that her brother struggled with depression, bipolar disorder, and a sleep disorder that often kept him awake for extended periods.
Benji Gregory was a child actor in ALF
Gregory portrayed Brian Tanner, the middle son, in over 100 episodes of ALF, which aired from 1986 to 1990. The sitcom followed the adventures of a furry alien from the planet Melmac, who crash-landed into the Tanners’ garage. Nicknamed ALF (short for Alien Life Form) and voiced by Paul Fusco, the character humorously commented on human customs and had a peculiar fondness for cats.
The main cast of the series also included Max Wright, Anne Schedeen, and Andrea Elson. Despite frequent changes in its time slot, ALF ranked No. 10 in primetime during its second season in 1987-88. The show’s first episode is available to watch via Shout! Studios, which acquired distribution rights in 2022.
Born on May 26, 1978, in suburban Los Angeles, Gregory began his television career in the mid-1980s with guest roles on shows like The A-Team, T.J. Hooker, Punky Brewster, The Twilight Zone, and Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories.
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During ALF’s run, Gregory also voiced a character on Fantastic Max and later voiced Biff Tannen Jr. on the 1991-92 animated series Back to the Future. He made a guest appearance in a 1991 episode of Murphy Brown and had a small role in the 1986 spy comedy Jumpin’ Jack Flash, directed by Penny Marshall and starring Whoopi Goldberg. He also appeared in commercials for brands like McDonald’s.
Benji Gregory left the entertainment industry in 2003 to join the U.S. Navy, where he served as an aerographer’s mate. He received an honorable medical discharge in 2005.
In memory of her brother, Rebecca suggests donations be made to The Actors Equity Foundation or the ASPCA.