MICHAEL WRIGHT Actors nous a quitté RIP
MICHAEL WRIGHT
Michael Wright (April 30, 1956 – August 19, 2026) was an American actor best known for his roles in the films The Five Heartbeats (1991),[1] Streamers (1983) for which he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor, and Sugar Hill (1994), and for his television roles Elias Taylor in V: The Series (1984–1985),[2] Omar White in Oz (2001–2003), and Lazarus Prime in Black Lightning (2019).
Early life
Wright was born and raised in New York City and was a graduate of the New Lincoln School[3].
Career
By 1978 he had entered the professional stage.[3]
Wright’s work in television included the 1983 NBC science fiction miniseries V, the 1984 sequel V The Final Battle, and V: The Series as Elias Taylor. He appeared in the 1987 episode « Duty and Honor » of Miami Vice as « The Savage », the 1997 action movie “Money Talks” as Aaron, and on the 1997 HBO series Oz as Omar White from 2001 to 2003. Wright also appeared on New York Undercover, and as Lazarus Prime on Black Lightning.
His film roles include the 1987 drama The Principal, with Jim Belushi, and the 1994 film Sugar Hill with Wesley Snipes. He played Clinton, the leader of The Del Bombers gang in the 1979 film The Wanderers. He also appeared in the 2005 thriller The Interpreter.
Death
Wright died from heart failure on August 19, 2026, at the age of 70.[4][5]
Filmography
- The Wanderers (1979) as Clinton
- Streamers (1983) as Carlyle
- Lontano da dove (1983) as Sylvester
- V (1983) as Elias Taylor (2 episodes)
- V: The Final Battle (1984) as Elias Taylor (3 episodes)
- V: The Series (1984–1985) as Elias Taylor (13 episodes)
- The Laundromat (1985) as Shooter Stevens
- Miami Vice as the Savage (episode: « Duty and Honor »)
- Bedtime Eyes (1987) as Spoon
- The Principal (1987) as Victor Duncan
- Private Times (1991)
- The 5 Heartbeats (1991) as Eddie King Jr.
- Sugar Hill (1994) as Raynathan « Ray » Skuggs
- New York Undercover (1996) as Rene Mazili
- The Cottonwood (1996) as Simon Z.
- Money Talks (1997) as Aaron
- Point Blank (1998) as Sonny
- Rage (1999) as « B-Boy »
- Piñero (2001) as Edgar Bowser
- Oz (2001–2003) as Omar White (22 episodes)
- Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003) as Black Mask (voice)
- Downtown: A Street Tale (2004) as Rudy
- The Interpreter (2005) as Marcus
- Before I Self Destruct (2009) as First Victim
- Rel (2018) as Mr. Donaldson
- Black Lightning (2019) as Lazarus Prime (2 episodes)
- Dope King (2025) as Willie
References
- « All the Wright Moves ». New York. New York Media, LLC. April 1, 1991. p. 24. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- Copp, Dan (March 8, 2017). Fascist Lizards from Outer Space: The Politics, Literary Influences and Cultural History of Kenneth Johnson’s V. McFarland. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-4766-6712-6.
- « « Five Heartbeats » Actor Michael Wright Passes Away at 70″. sb-american.com. August 21, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- Biswas, Shuvrajit Das (August 22, 2026). « Michael Wright cause of death update: What happened to The Five Heartbeats actor? Co-star Leon Robinson pays tribute ». Hindustan Times. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- « ‘The Five Heartbeats’ Star Michael Wright Dead at 70″. TMZ. August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
