‘ALF’ child star Benji Gregory, 46, found dead alongside service dog in bank parking lot
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 discovered in a Chase Bank parking lot in Peoria, Ariz., his sister Rebecca told TMZ Wednesday.
Gregory’s official date of death is listed as June 13, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office.
His cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Rebecca told the outlet that Gregory suffered from depression, bipolar disorder and had a sleep disorder that would often force him to stay awake for days at a time.
The outlet added that Gregory was in the area to deposit a residual check at a nearby bank in Peoria, AZ, the day before his death.
The actor’s family believes he died from vehicular heatstroke due to the sweltering heat.
Temperatures in Peoria reached a high of 107 degrees on the day Gregory died, according to Accuweather.
Gregory was with his service dog Hans at the time of his death. The dog also died in the car.
The actor first shared a snap of his adorable pug on Instagram back in March 2021, captioning the pic, “Hans.”
His heartbroken sister said that their family is “grieving a great loss,” adding that they appreciate everyone’s support at this difficult time.
She suggested that fans could make donations in the late actor’s name to the Actors Equity Foundation or the ASPCA — both organizations he cared about.
Gregory found fame after landing the role of Brian Tanner in “ALF.” He went on to appear in 101 episodes in the hit NBC sitcom, which ran from 1986 to 1990.
He also took on several well-known projects in the 1980s during his time on the sitcom, including “The A-Team,” “Fantastic Max” and “The Twilight Zone.”
He later appeared in a TV pilot, “Fenster Hall,” a Disney movie, “Mr. Boogedy,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
In 2003 he quit Hollywood and enlisted in the US Navy where he became an aerographer’s mate. He was honorably discharged from his post two years later.
The actor’s final social media post was an image of a sidewalk on April 10, with the caption, “Wish my dog, Hans, would grow out of this ‘tagging’ phase already.”
