The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner has now confirmed the cause of Benji Gregory’s death to be “environmental heat exposure in the setting of hepatic cirrhosis” three months after his passing. The child actor was found dead in his car on June 13, with his service dog, Hans, also lying lifeless.
Only 46 at the time of his death, Benji is best known for playing Brian Tanner as a child actor in the ‘80s NBC sitcom, ALF. Further reports suggest that Benji’s demise was caused by an accident, as some residuals were found in his vehicle.
What happened to Benji Gregory?
Benji’s sister, Rebecca Hertzberg-Pfaffinger, broke the news of his passing on Facebook, stating that he intended to dispose of the residuals discovered in his car but never got out because he slept off. She added that he likely died from vehicular heatstroke. “It is with a heavy heart that my family has suffered a loss way too early,” she wrote.
RELATED: Former ‘ALF’ Child Star Benji Gregory Dies At 46
Rebecca accompanied the announcement with a heartwarming family photo, adding that Benji was a great son, uncle, and father. “He was fun to be around and made us laugh quite often. Still, going through his things, I find myself laughing at little videos or notes of his, in between crying,” the grieving sibling confessed.
Benji Gregory’s acting career
Benji clinched his ALF role at the age of 8, although it was not his first time on screen, as he starred in commercials as a baby. Before his most popular series, ALF, Benji appeared in TV shows like Fantasy Island, T.J. Hooker, Amazing Stories, and The Twilight Zone, where he played Boy.
While active on ALF, he also starred in a few other series, like Fantastic Max and Pound Puppies. Benji later pivoted to a naval career, working as an aerographer’s mate on the USS Carl Vinson until his discharge in 2005 due to health reasons. According to Rebecca, the late child actor battled sleep disorders during his lifetime and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.