Benji Gregory, the former child actor best known for his role as Brian Tanner on the 1980s sitcom “Alf,” has died at the age of 46.
Page Six reported that Gregory was found unresponsive in his car on June 13, 2024, in Peoria, Arizona. Authorities have since ruled his death an accident, caused by environmental heat exposure compounded by underlying health conditions.
Gregory’s death was attributed to environmental heat exposure in the setting of hepatic cirrhosis, a serious liver condition.
He was found in the parking lot of a Chase Bank, where he had been the previous evening to deposit residual earnings from his acting career.
According to the Maricopa Medical Examiner’s office, Gregory’s death was the result of a combination of heat exposure and hepatic cirrhosis.
Hepatic cirrhosis is a chronic condition where the liver becomes scarred due to long-term damage, leading to a gradual loss of liver function. In the oppressive Arizona heat, Gregory succumbed to the effects of heatstroke while asleep in his vehicle.
Rebecca Pfaffinger, Gregory’s sister, took to Facebook in July to confirm the tragic news. She explained that Gregory had visited the bank on June 12 to handle financial matters related to his former work as a child actor. He apparently fell asleep in his car later that night and never woke up. "He fell asleep and died from vehicular heatstroke," Pfaffinger wrote.
Gregory, who shot to fame as a child actor on “Alf,” had struggled with various health challenges throughout his life. In addition to hepatic cirrhosis, he had been diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and a sleep disorder that made it difficult for him to rest for days at a time.
These conditions may have contributed to his tragic death, as they likely affected his ability to respond to the dangerous heat levels in the vehicle.
Despite his struggles, Pfaffinger remembered her brother fondly. "Ben was a great Son, Brother and Uncle," she wrote in her Facebook post, adding that Gregory had a fun personality and often made his family laugh. Even as she sorted through his belongings, Pfaffinger noted that Gregory’s humor still shone through, bringing moments of levity to her grief.
Gregory first gained widespread recognition as Brian Tanner, the youngest member of the Tanner family in the beloved sitcom “Alf,” which aired from 1986 to 1990.
His career included guest-starring roles on popular 1980s shows such as “The A-Team” and “The Twilight Zone.” Gregory also appeared in other television projects, including the TV pilot “Fenster Hall” and the Disney film “Mr. Boogedy.”
In addition to his acting career, Gregory enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2003, serving as an aerographer’s mate, a position involving weather forecasting.
He was honorably discharged in 2005 after two years of service. This marked a significant transition from his earlier years in the entertainment industry.
The news of Gregory’s death also reminds fans of the losses within the "Alf" family. Co-star Michu Meszaros, who played the title character "Alf," died in 2016 at the age of 76. Another co-star, Max Wright, who played the family patriarch Willie Tanner, passed away in 2018 following a battle with cancer. He was 75.
While the “Alf” cast has now seen the passing of several key members, the legacy of the show and its stars continues to resonate with fans who remember the warmth and humor that defined the series.
Gregory’s death also highlights the dangers of vehicular heatstroke, a condition that claims the lives of many each year, particularly in warmer climates like Arizona. Even short periods of time in a closed vehicle can lead to dangerous spikes in temperature, posing serious risks to anyone inside.
His passing serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability that people face, especially those with health conditions like hepatic cirrhosis.
As temperatures rise, the importance of heat safety measures cannot be overstated.
Rebecca Pfaffinger’s words offered a glimpse into Gregory’s life and the deep impact he had on his family. She shared that, despite the difficulties he faced, Gregory was a source of laughter and joy for those around him. “He was fun to be around and made us laugh quite often,” she said. “Still, going through his things, I find myself laughing at little videos or notes of his, in between crying.”
Gregory leaves behind a legacy that includes not only his early work as a beloved child actor but also his personal strength in navigating the challenges of life. His story is one of both joy and struggle, and his passing has left a void for those who knew and loved him.
