Former child star Benji Gregory, best known for his role in the hit sitcom “Alf,” was found dead in his car in Arizona last month. He was 46.
The actor’s lifeless body was found in a Chase Bank parking lot in Peoria, Arizona, his sister Rebecca told TMZ on Wednesday.
According to the Maricopa County coroner’s office, Gregory’s official date of death is June 13.
The cause of death has not yet been released.
Rebecca told the newspaper that Gregory suffered from depression and bipolar disorder and had a sleep disorder that often kept him awake for days.
According to the medium, Gregory was in the area the day before his death to deposit a residual check at a nearby bank in Peoria, Arizona.
The actor’s family suspects he died of heatstroke in the vehicle, caused by the stifling heat.
According to Accuweather, temperatures in Peoria reached a high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit on the day Gregory died.
Gregory was with his service dog Hans when he died. The dog also died in the car.
The actor first shared a photo of his adorable pug on Instagram in March 2021, captioning it: “Hans.”
His grieving sister said their family is “grieving a great loss” and appreciates everyone’s support during this difficult time.
She suggested that fans could make a donation in the late actor’s name to the Actors Equity Foundation or the ASPCA, two organizations dear to his heart.
Gregory rose to fame after landing the role of Brian Tanner on “Alf.” He went on to appear in 101 episodes of the hit NBC sitcom, which ran from 1986 to 1990.
He also took on several high-profile projects during his time on the sitcom in the 1980s, including “The A-Team,” “Fantastic Max,” and “The Twilight Zone.”
He later appeared in a TV pilot, “Fenster Hall”, a Disney film, “Mr. Boogedy” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”.
In 2003, he left Hollywood and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he became an aerographer’s mate. He was honorably discharged two years later.
The actor’s last social media post was a photo of a sidewalk on April 10, with the caption, “I wish my dog, Hans, would outgrow this ‘tagging’ phase already.”