Matthew Wright, a producer on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show,' died at 52, and his cause of death has now been disclosed. A death certificate obtained by PEOPLE lists cardiopulmonary arrest as the immediate cause, with hypertension identified as the underlying condition. Obstructive sleep apnea and Class II obesity were cited as contributing conditions, according to TMZ.com.
Wright passed away on October 30 in Los Angeles. A GoFundMe organized to support his family states that he died "suddenly but peacefully in his sleep," TMZ.com reported. His family described the loss as an "unfathomable tragedy."
The family has faced financial strain in covering the cost of transporting his body to New York, because Wright and his husband, Justin, both lost their jobs in layoffs over the summer. Funds raised through the GoFundMe will also be applied to funeral costs and an Los Angeles memorial service.
Ellen DeGeneres contributed $5,000 to the fundraiser and published an emotional tribute to Wright on social media. Andy Lassner, a longtime executive producer on 'Ellen,' also donated and noted that he had visited the 'Jennifer Hudson Show' set only hours before Wright's death, according to TMZ.com.
Wright was 52 years old. His death has drawn tributes from colleagues across the daytime television community, where he was known for his work on one of the most prominent talk shows in the country.