The beloved star from our childhood, Benji Gregory, has sadly passed away. He was discovered lifeless in his car at just 46 years old.
Benji Gregory is best remembered for his role as Brian Tanner on the hit TV show ‘ALF’. His sister, Rebecca, shared with TMZ that Benji was found at a Chase Bank in Peoria, Arizona. She expressed the family’s profound grief, thanking everyone for their kind words and thoughts.
The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. However, those close to him suspect he may have been at the bank to deposit a check and succumbed to heat stroke after passing out in his car. Tragically, Benji’s loyal service dog, Hans, also perished.
Benji Gregory was born on May 26, 1978, in a Los Angeles suburb. He began his television career as a child in the 1980s, with roles on popular shows such as ‘The A-Team’, ‘T.J. Hooker’, ‘Punky Brewster’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, and Steven Spielberg’s ‘Amazing Stories’.
From 1986 to 1990, he captured viewers’ hearts as Brian Tanner on ‘ALF’.
Benji was a huge dog lover. His Instagram profile highlighted his passions: “Lover of dogs, traveling, late-night runs, music, podcasts, Navy, bipolar, major depression disorder, GAD, ALF, VR, Nike, Cinema 4D, Creative Cloud.” He often shared about his service dog, Hans.
Rebecca has asked those who wish to honor Benji’s memory to donate to either The Actors Equity Foundation or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruity to Animals (ASPCA), an organization dedicated to preventing animal abuse.
Benji’s last Instagram post from April 10 read, “Wish my dog, Hans, would grow out of this ‘tagging’ phase already,” alongside a photo of a sidewalk. The post now serves as a touching final memory.
Followers and fans left heartfelt condolences in the comments, with one writing, “R.I.P. Ben. R.I.P. Hans.” Another expressed, “Prayers and thoughts are with your family.”
Benji Gregory continued working in film and television well into his teenage years, with appearances in ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Fantastic Max’, and ‘The A-Team’. At 18, he made a significant decision to leave acting behind and join the US Navy in 2003. After two years, he received an honorable medical discharge.
His most iconic role as Brian Tanner on ‘ALF’ is deeply etched in our memories. The TV show, which ran from 1986 to 1990 with over 100 episodes, depicted the amusing adventures of a California family who took in an alien named ALF. The alien’s antics as he tried to hide his true identity from the world brought laughter to millions.
Benji Gregory’s untimely passing was a blow to all who knew and loved him. He was found in his parked car at a Chase Bank lot. As his sister Rebecca mentioned, Benji struggled with a sleep disorder, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Those who knew him believe that he may have passed out after going to the bank and succumbed to the intense heat. The world has lost a truly beloved actor and a kind soul.
