Beyond 'ALF': Benji Gregory was a dog lover, veteran and mental health advocate

Benji Gregory, a child actor who played Brian Tanner on the hit '80s television show "ALF," was found dead in Peoria, Arizona, on June 13, 2024, at the age of 46.

The specific cause of Gregory's death is still under investigation. He was found with his service dog Hans in his car parked at a Chase Bank in Peoria, according to TMZ.

Gregory starred on "ALF" for four years. After he left acting, he served in the military for two years and was outspoken about his mental health issues.

In remembrance of Gregory, and his service pug Hans, here's a look at his life and legacy.

Who was the boy in 'ALF'?

Benjamin Gregory Hertzberg, professionally known as Benji Gregory, was born and raised in Los Angeles in a family of working actors. His father, sister and uncle all worked in the industry and Gregory's grandmother was his agent.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Gregory's most notable role was portraying middle son Brian Tanner in the hit '80s sitcom "ALF" that ran for four seasons and 102 episodes from September 1986 to March 1990. The show followed ALF, an alien life form also known as Gordon Shumway, who crash-lands on Earth and falls in with the Tanner family to avoid capture by the Alien Task Force.

While this role was Gregory's most notable, it wasn't the only hit television show he would be seen in.

What TV shows did Benji Gregory appear in?

Gregory guest starred in numerous television shows over the years.

He appeared in an episode of "The A-Team" and "T.J. Hooker" in 1984 and as an orphan boy named Dash in two episodes of "Punky Brewster." He popped up in "The Twilight Zone" in 1985 before landing the role of Brian Tanner in "ALF" in 1986.

Gregory also appeared as himself in the public service announcement series "The More You Know" as well as a few episodes of the game show "Fun House."

His final role before retiring was voicing a young mole named Edgar in the 1993 animated kids movie "Once Upon a Forest."

Benji Gregory was retired U.S. Navy and a mental health advocate

After he left acting, Gregory joined the U.S. Navy in 2003.

Gregory was assigned to the USS Carl Vinson and became an aerographer's mate. His duties included observing, collecting, recording and analyzing meteorological and oceanographic data. He also interpreted codes, satellite and radar imagery and data and performed equipment maintenance, among other tasks.

Gregory was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2005 for undisclosed medical reasons.

His Instagram account @benji_gregory was fairly active prior to his death and in his bio Gregory said he was a "lover of dogs, traveling, late-night runs, music, podcasts, Navy, bipolar, major depression disorder, GAD, ALF, VR, Nike, Cinema 4D, Creative Cloud."

Gregory's sister Rebecca told tmz.com that her brother lived with depression, bipolar disorder and a sleep disorder that would keep him awake for days.

His service dog Hans was with Gregory in the car found in the parking lot of a Chase Bank in Peoria, AZ, on June 13, 2024.

Engaged?Share your engagement-ring shopping tips and wisdom for a story to help other couples

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office has not reported a cause of death as of July 11. Gregory's sister believes he and Hans died of heatstroke after dropping off residual checks at the bank and falling asleep in the car.

Gregory's family encourages anyone who can, to make donations to the Actors' Equity Foundation or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Gregory's name.

Meredith G. White covers entertainment and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She has the latest news about video games, television and things to do in metro Phoenix. Follow her on X and Instagram @meredithgwhite and on Facebook as Meredith G. White. Email her at meredith.white@arizonarepublic.com.