Why Max Wright Left ALF Without Saying Goodbye

Did you know that there’s footage of ALF using racial slurs and that one of the series’ main stars hated working with the titular puppet? ALF was a science-fiction series from the 1980s. While it may not have been the only sitcom from around the time that utilized science-fiction elements to stand out, it was notable for the fact that its titular character was portrayed on the screen by a life-size puppet! The ALF puppet wasn’t necessarily lifelike, but it was detailed enough that it was able to fool the audience. Shooting scenes with the ALF puppet was harder than on the average sitcom, and the cast grew tired of doing the show by its relatively early end. There was one actor, in particular, who truly hated working on the series.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
02:29 - ALF Was Difficult to Film
03:08 - Max Wright Left ALF Without Saying a Word
04:23 - One Cast Member from ALF Became Bulimic
05:22 - Ben Hertzberg Had a Great Time Filming ALF
05:57 - Was Alf Racist?
06:38 - Outro

The actor who hated working with the ALF puppet more than anyone was Max Wright. Max claimed that he had a lot of respect for the technical craftsmanship that was used to bring the ALF puppet to life before the camera. Max’s respect for the technical craft caused him to want to bring his all to every performance. However, the strenuous demands of doing so became too much for the actor by the end.

Though ALF was a pretty big hit, the show only lasted for four seasons. A big part of its early end stemmed from the fact that it was much harder to film than the average series, as well as the fact that so many of its cast and crew hated working on it. Max Wright wasn’t the only member of ALF’s cast that disliked working on the series. However, he certainly hated it the most! Join Facts Verse as we explore why Max Wright left ALF without saying goodbye.

Why Max Wright Left ALF Without Saying Goodbye

[FactsVerse]

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[j.b.]

I understand how the cast must have felt but Alf is one of the best sitcoms ever. I wouldn't mind Alf making a comeback.

[miroslavtomic]

Years after the show ended, Max Wright agreed to speak on the subject during an interview. While he claimed that he never changed his mind about hating working on this show, about which he was very vocal both during and after filming it, he admitted that got huge satisfaction from receiving tons of fan mail telling how much joy the show has brought to so many people. He also said that he held no grudge against any of the other cast members, most of whom he got along well, during filming.

[miroslavtomic]

The fact that Max performed perfectly on this show and known fact that he hated working on this show, about which he was very vocal both during and after working on the show, shows what an amazing actor and consumate professional he was.
In the years leading up to his death, he finally agreed to speak about this show, after avoiding giving interviews about it for many years. While he claimed that he never changed his mind about hating working on this show, he admitted that he got huge personal satisfaction from receiving tons of fan mail telling him how much joy and happiness this show has brought to so many people.
Also, when asked if he would ever consider appearing on possible sequel or reboot of ALF, Wright never gave a definite answer, always simply saying that the times have changed. With modern technologies, there is no doubt that doing such show would be alot easier work than the original was.

[ElitsidanElitTV]

This is a big part of my childhood. I have all episodes on DVD. I am now 47 but whenever I see an episode I am ten years old again 😂

[miroslavtomic]

Max Wright was the heart and soul of this show. Sure, Alf was the main star, but Willy was the one that kept sanity in the family and kept the family together.

[sleepinglionarchives]

Max Wright as ALF's foil was as equal to the success of the series as ALF himself. While I was sorry to hear shooting was so rough on the cast, I loved the show as a kid and still laugh the reruns today

[thefonzkiss]

ALF isn’t science fiction for gods sake.

[KingOfSummer]

The relationship between Alf and Willy was great!

[sparky]

The 80's was a magical time, so many great times then and I loved watching Alf

[peterdalton]

Benji Gregory passed away in 2024, from exhaustion and from heat stroke aged 47. After the demise of Alf, Benji served in the US Navy.

[miroslavtomic]

Alf was played by the doll (actually, at least two of them, which were not identical, and it was often easy to tell them apart even in same scene) in all the shots in which Alf was shown from waist up, as the puppet didn't have legs as it was moved around on hidraulics, which is about 99% of the shots, for the shots in which Alf's entire body was seen, he was actually played by Hungarian actor Michu Meszaros. Being just 2 9 tall, he wore an Alf costume. However, due to having problems with overheating in the costume and the already high costs of the show, Alf was shown full body only when it was absolutely neccessary.

[Atheist]

I loved this show.... It's too bad that the people on it were having such a terrible
Their perseverance gave us a gem!!!!
"Dinosaurs" was JUST AMAZING to watch, with EXCELLENT writing, sadly so short lived.

[amg]

Rip Ben! Thank you for the memories! 😥

[vincentsolomitajr]

I wish they would bring the show back!

[johnnyrodriguez]

I still love watching reruns. Cracks me up .

[thisisme]

Viewing a program like "Alf, " on TV, it's easy to just watch and not even think how much work goes into a sitcom with a "puppet." It probably would be a challenging feat for the other actors.

[MsBrynnElizabeth]

My 2nd birthday (1987) was all ALF themed. The paper plates, streamers, balloons, banners, and cake…it was awesome.

For how many 80s tv show reboots there are; I wonder why they haven’t done ALF….Then again, it would have to be Paul Fusco doing the voice…hmm


At least max wrights DUI legal issues, and his disdain for being on the set as he hated it, and he’s doing the whole being dead thing..

Alright sweet babies, you’re the ones who’re out of this world!!

[dshodaw]

To this day, one of my favorite sitcoms of all times. Props to everyone who made it work (y)

[robertdragoff]

There was another sci-fi sitcom on tv around the same time as Alf, called ‘Small Wonder’ about a little girl who was actually a robot who lived with a family after being designed and built by her ‘dad’.

It was kinda like Alf, only less off the wall. In a scene in the very first episode, Alf flushes a toilet and says “… interesting concept “

If you stop and think about it, Alf was a reboot of another classic sci-fi sitcom, My Favorite Martian….

It was sad to hear of Max’s passing, and as much as he hated working on the show, it still was fun to watch.