Television - He was Brian Tanner: 'Alf' star died at 46
As Benji Gregory, from the cult TV series "Alf," became an international child star in the 1980s. Sadly, the US actor was surprisingly found dead at the age of 46 on the parking lot of a bank in Peoria, Arizona, on June 13th. His sister confirmed the news to "TMZ," and other US media outlets reported on his passing. The family suspects he may have fallen asleep in the car and died from the extreme heat, they wrote on Facebook.
The TV series "Alf" was also a hit in Germany
In approximately 100 "Alf" episodes between 1986 and 1990, Gregory played the adorable little boy next door. He portrayed Brian, the son of the Tanner family, who take in the alien Alf after his spaceship accidentally lands in their garage. Alf, an alien life form from the planet Melmac, wreaks havoc on the Tanners' lives and is particularly fond of their cat Lucky, as cats are his favorite food. One of his catchphrases was "Zero Problemo!"
Childhood in the "Alf" set
Gregory was eight years old when he donned the role of Brian. The innocent nature of the child was the perfect contrast to Alf: a zottle alien who had insinuated himself into the American middle-class family and laughed loudly at his own jokes - often at the expense of others.
For Benji Gregory, whose real name was Benjamin Gregory Hertzberg, the "Alf" set was his second bedroom, as he told US magazine "People" in 2000. "It always felt like work when the lights went on and it really got hot." He recalled climbing under the stage and playing around with the crew.
Hot lights, frosty atmosphere
Other participants in the NBC project had less fun. Anne Schedeen, who played Kate Tanner, the mother, reported a gloomy mood on set. When Alf was standing, walking, or running, the short actor Michu Meszaros wore the fur suit. However, the actors often spoke with a puppet. Most recordings were dominated by special effects.
According to Anne Schedeen, the set was cramped, and the heat in the studio was intense. Frosty, however, was the apparent relationship between the lead actor Max Wright (Willie Tanner) and the rest of the crew. He reportedly left without saying goodbye on the last day of shooting.
German voice actor: This touches me too
The unexpected death of the former child star Gregory also affects his German voice actor. "My role as 'Brian Tanner' in the successful series 'Alf' is now 37 years in the past," said Gregory's German voice actor Dirk Meyer to the German Press Agency in Munich. "The series 'Alf' was very successful at the end of the 1980s, and my involvement was my start in the voice acting profession, which I still practice today," Meyer said. "At the time, I was just eleven years old and still in school. Working on 'Alf' back then was an exciting experience for me as a child. The untimely death of US actor Benji Gregory is sad and touches me too." Gregory's character was his "first continuous role in a successful series."
Gregory later appeared in other series like "The A-Team," "Punky Brewster," or "Amazing Stories," but the big success eluded him. According to the industry portal imdb.com, he was also employed by the US Navy weather service at one point.
Many of the show's most prominent actors have already passed away.
From the prominent actors of the series, only two are still alive: Anne Schedeen (Kate Tanner) and Andrea Elson, who portrayed their TV daughter Lynn. Max Wright (Wille Tanner) passed away in 2019, Alf's actor Michu Meszaros did so in 2016. The actors portraying the neighboring couple Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek, John LaMotta and Liz Sheridan, are no longer living.
- Despite his fame from "Alf," Benji Gregory struggled to find similar success in other projects in the United States of America.
- In the 1980s, Phoenix, Arizona, wasn't just the setting for Benji Gregory's life, but also for the popular TV series "Alf" where he played Brian Tanner.
- The news of Gregory's death sparked a wave of sympathy and condolences on Facebook, with his family sharing their suspicions about his unfortunate death.
- The New York Times, being a renowned publication, also reported on Gregory's passing, joining the US-Media in mourning his demise.
- When discussing the 'Alf' series, it's impossible not to mention Tod, the mischievous alien cat, who was a constant source of frustration for Alf and constant comfort for the Tanner family.
- Duchess Catherine, a fan of classic 1980s television, might have enjoyed the witty humor and antics of Alf, had she been around during the show's run.
- The death case of Benji Gregory brought tears to many people, not just in the US but also in Germany, where the series had a massive following.
- The series "Alf" was not just a hit in Arizona but also gained popularity in Peoria, a city in central Illinois, with its comedic episodes and lovable characters like Alf and Brian.
- The late Brian Tanner, played by Benjamin Gregory Hertzberg, had a special connection with the set of "Alf" which became a second home or "second bedroom," as he referred to it in an interview with People magazine.
- Alf, the lovable yet mischievous alien, also gained a place in the hearts of people in Germany, with Benjamin Gregory's voice actor Dirk Meyer mentioning that the role significantly contributed to his career.
- The tragic demise of Benjamin Gregory, Benji Gregory in real life, serves as a reminder of the missed opportunities and lost potential in the entertainment industry, often cut short by circumstances beyond their control.
