Tragic End for 'ALF' Star Benji Gregory at 46

Benji Gregory, famed for playing Brian Tanner on 'ALF,' was found dead at 46 in Peoria, Arizona, likely due to heatstroke. He and his service dog succumbed to the high temperatures after he fell asleep in his car. The exact cause is still under investigation.

Benji Gregory, best known for his role as Brian Tanner on the TV show 'ALF,' has died at the age of 46. According to TMZ, Gregory was found dead in his car on June 13 in the parking lot of a Chase Bank in Peoria, Arizona.

Reports indicate that Gregory may have fallen asleep in his vehicle while attempting to deposit checks the previous day. His death is suspected to be the result of vehicular heatstroke, with Arizona temperatures soaring to 109 degrees Fahrenheit on June 12. Gregory's service dog, Hans, was also discovered dead in the car.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office has stated that the precise cause of death is still under investigation. Rebecca Hertzberg-Pfaffinger, Gregory's older sister, told TMZ that Gregory had struggled with depression, bipolar disorder, and a sleep disorder that often kept him awake for days.

Gregory rose to fame with his portrayal of Brian Tanner in 'ALF,' appearing in 101 episodes from 1986 to 1990. The show, created by puppeteer Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett, followed the Tanner family's interactions with an alien named Gordon Shumway, known as ALF. Warner Bros. announced a reboot of 'ALF' in 2018, but the project was scrapped within the same year due to a lack of platform interest. Recently, Shout! Factory secured the rights to 'ALF' and plans to develop new content related to the series.

'ALF' is currently available for streaming on Peacock and Amazon Prime. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)