Michael Wright, The Five Heartbeats actor, dies at 70

Actor Michael Wright, best known for playing Eddie King Jr. in Robert Townsend's 1991 musical drama The Five Heartbeats, died at the age of 70. His wife, Susan Wright, confirmed his death in an Instagram post, saying that more details about his life, legacy and plans to honour him would be shared in the coming days. A cause of death has not been disclosed."It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright (sic)," Susan wrote in her statement. She also asked people not to circulate unconfirmed information or make statements on behalf of the family as they come to terms with what she described as an "enormous and deeply personal loss".Remembering him beyond his work on screen, Susan described Wright as "a husband, a father, a grandfather, loved one, a friend, and an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations."She named his children as Manon Wright, Byron Barr, Brittney Briggs, Brianna Barr and Sir Barr, and identified Yoko as his grandchild. Michael Wright's career beyond The Five HeartbeatsWright's acting career earned him recognition well before The Five Heartbeats. In 1983, he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in Streamers, the Robert Altman-directed drama based on David Rabe's play.However, it was Eddie King Jr., the troubled lead singer of the fictional R&B group in The Five Heartbeats, who became Wright's most enduring role. The film follows the group's journey through fame, while Wright's character battles alcoholism and drug addiction before beginning his recovery. The performance became closely associated with Wright, with his portrayal of Eddie continuing to resonate with fans decades after the film's release. Wright also maintained that the singing in the film was part of his own performance. In a 2011 interview, when asked about his vocals, he said, "No I act like I sing like that."Wright's filmography extends well beyond the 1991 musical drama. His credits include The Wanderers, Streamers and Sugar Hill. He also appeared on television, including as Omar White in HBO's acclaimed prison drama Oz.- EndsPublished On: Aug 22, 2026 12:08 IST