PHOENIX — Former child actor Benji Gregory, who gained fame as the young boy on the 1980s television sitcom “ALF,” has passed away in suburban Phoenix at the age of 46.
Gregory, legally known as Benjamin Gregory Hertzberg, died on June 13, according to records from the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner. The cause of his death is still under investigation.
Gregory’s sister, Rebecca Pfaffinger, informed The New York Times that her brother’s body was discovered in his car parked at a bank in Peoria, near Phoenix. He had apparently gone there to deposit residual checks. His dog Hans was also found deceased in the vehicle.
The high temperature in metro Phoenix on the day of Gregory’s death reached 108 F (42.2 C), but it remains unclear whether Arizona’s intense summer heat played a part in his passing.
Gregory was just 8 years old when he became widely known for his role as Brian Tanner on the NBC show about a family that takes in “ALF” — an alien life form with a furry appearance — after its spaceship crashes. He also featured in commercials and other TV shows, such as “The A-Team” and “Fantasy Island.”
In later years, Gregory served in the U.S. Navy as an aerographer’s mate, specializing in weather tracking for aviation and maritime safety, as noted by the entertainment database IMDb.
No further information on additional survivors or a memorial service has been provided.