Actor Michael Wright, known for ‘The Five Heartbeats,’ dies at 70

U.S. newsActor Michael Wright, known for ‘The Five Heartbeats,’ dies at 70Wright died following complications from Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare degenerative neurological condition he was diagnosed with in 2015, and complications from heart failure.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Michael Wright in New York in 2006.Johnny Nunez / WireImageShareAdd to GoogleAug. 22, 2026, 5:53 PM EDT / Updated Aug. 22, 2026, 5:58 PM EDTBy Marlene LenthangMichael Wright, known for the film “The Five Heartbeats” and the TV series “V,” has died at 70, his wife announced.“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” his wife, Susan Wright, said in a statement Friday.He died Wednesday at UCI Medical Center in California with his wife and their children by his side, his wife told NBC News.Wright died peacefully following complications from Marchiafava- Bignami disease, a rare degenerative neurological condition he was diagnosed with in 2015, and complications from heart failure, the family said.Susan Wright remembered him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and “an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations.”“Many knew and loved him through The Five Heartbeats, The Wanderers, V, The Principal, Streamers, and the many other characters he brought to life throughout his remarkable career,” she said. “His talent, presence, and contributions to film and television will live on, but to those of us who loved him personally, he was so much more than the roles the world knew him for.”The family asked for privacy and said further details on plans to honor the actor would be shared in the coming days. “We understand how much Michael meant to so many people, and we are grateful for the love, prayers, memories, and condolences already being shared,” Susan Wright said.“Michael, your work will live forever, but your love will live even longer in the hearts of those w...