A00167 - Michael Wright, African American Actor Best Known for His Role as Eddie Kane, Jr., in "The Five Heartbeats"

 

Michael Wright
Born	April 30, 1956 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 19, 2026 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1978–2026
Children	5

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 Received notice this evening of the passing of Michael Wright (see below).  He was not a big star, but he performed in one of my favorite movies of all time The Five Heartbeats, and he was featured in two of my favorite musical numbers from the film. The first is the defining song from the movie, "A Heart is a House for Love"

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and the second is the redeeming song from the movie, "I Feel Like Going On" 

The Five Heartbeats - I Feel Like Going On - YouTube

There was something about this movie that brought me great joy in 1991 and still brings me joy today.  And while, Michael Wright did not actually sing the songs, his performance was one that I will remember for all time.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

Class of 1975

August 22, 2026 

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Michael Wright (April 30, 1956 – August 21, 2026) was an American actor best known for his roles in the films The Five Heartbeats (1991),[1] Streamers (1983) for which he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor, and Sugar Hill (1994), and for his television roles Elias Taylor in V: The Series (1984–1985),[2] Omar White in Oz (2001–2003), and Lazarus Prime in Black Lightning (2019).

Early life

 

Wright was born and raised in New York City and was a graduate of the New Lincoln School[3].

Career

 

By 1978 he had entered the professional stage.[3]

Wright's work in television included the 1983 NBC science fiction miniseries V, the 1984 sequel V The Final Battle, and V: The Series as Elias Taylor. He appeared in the 1987 episode "Duty and Honor" of Miami Vice as "The Savage", and on the 1997 HBO series Oz as Omar White from 2001 to 2003. Wright also appeared on New York Undercover, and as Lazarus Prime on Black Lightning.

Wright's film roles include the 1987 drama The Principal, with Jim Belushi, and the 1994 film Sugar Hill with Wesley Snipes. He played Clinton, the leader of The Del Bombers gang in the 1979 film The Wanderers. He also appeared in the 2005 thriller The Interpreter.

Death

 

Wright died on August 21, 2026, at age 70.[4]

Filmography

 

• The Wanderers (1979) as Clinton
• Streamers (1983) as Carlyle
• Lontano da dove (1983) as Sylvester
• V (1983) as Elias Taylor (2 episodes)
• V: The Final Battle (1984) as Elias Taylor (3 episodes)
• V: The Series (1984–1985) as Elias Taylor (13 episodes)
• The Laundromat (1985) as Shooter Stevens
• Miami Vice as the Savage (episode: "Duty and Honor")
• Bedtime Eyes (1987) as Spoon
• The Principal (1987) as Victor Duncan
• Private Times (1991)
• The 5 Heartbeats (1991) as Eddie King Jr.
• Sugar Hill (1994) as Raynathan "Ray" Skuggs
• New York Undercover (1996) as Rene Mazili
• The Cottonwood (1996) as Simon Z.
• Money Talks (1997) as Aaron
• Point Blank (1998) as Sonny
• Rage (1999) as "B-Boy"
• Piñero (2001) as Edgar Bowser
• Oz (2001–2003) as Omar White (22 episodes)
• Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003) as Black Mask (voice)
• Downtown: A Street Tale (2004) as Rudy
• The Interpreter (2005) as Marcus
• Before I Self Destruct (2009) as First Victim
• Rel (2018) as Mr. Donaldson
• Black Lightning (2019) as Lazarus Prime (2 episodes)
• Dope King (2025) as Willie

References

 

1.  "All the Wright Moves". New York. New York Media, LLC. April 1, 1991. p. 24. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
2.  Copp, Dan (March 8, 2017). Fascist Lizards from Outer Space: The Politics, Literary Influences and Cultural History of Kenneth Johnson's V. McFarland. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-4766-6712-6.
3.  ""Five Heartbeats" Actor Michael Wright Passes Away at 70". sb-american.com. August 21, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
4.  Biswas, Shuvrajit Das (August 22, 2026). "Michael Wright cause of death update: What happened to The Five Heartbeats actor? Co-star Leon Robinson pays tribute". Hindustan Times. Retrieved August 22, 2026.

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