The child star of “Alf” was 46 years old

Courtesy of the Everett Collection

Benji Gregory, a former child actor and star of the 1980s sitcom “Alf,” has died. He was 46.

His sister, Rebecca Hertzberg-Pfaffinger, told The New York Times that Gregory and his service dog were both found dead in his car on June 13 in a bank parking lot in Peoria, Arizona. Hertzberg-Pfaffinger also announced the news in a Facebook post Wednesday, saying the family believes Gregory fell asleep and “died of heatstroke in a vehicle.” She told The NYT that the official cause of death is not yet known.

Gregory played Brian Tanner, the youngest child of the Tanner family, in “Alf,” which follows an alien living in a suburban family. While his work is most recognized and celebrated, Gregory also made several guest appearances on various television series throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, including “The A-Team,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Fantasy Island,” and “The Twilight Zone.”

But his television appearances aren’t limited to physical work. He also voices various characters in animated series, including “Fantastic Max,” in which he voices the character Ben. Gregory also appears as himself in the PSA television series “The More You Know,” the children’s game show “I’m Telling!” and an episode of “Fun House.”

After his acting debut, Gregory stepped away from Hollywood and pursued other interests, including a stint in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in 2003 and graduated to become an airman, specializing in meteorology and oceanography. He used his expertise to provide forecasts and warnings for aviation and water safety.

Gregory was assigned to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during his naval career. In 2005, he received an honorable medical discharge from the Navy and married Sarah Gregory shortly after completing his military service in 2006.

In 2000, Gregory was interviewed by People, where he discussed his work on “Alf,” saying, “The only time I felt like I was working was when the lights were on and it was really hot.” He added that he remembered “climbing under the stage and messing with the staff.”

Although he noted that it was a “relief” when “Alf” was cancelled as he no longer wanted to act, he also claimed that he “has no regrets”.

Gregory was born Benjamin Gregory Hertzberg in Encino, California, on May 26, 1978. His father, uncle, and sister Hertzberg-Pfaffinger were all actors, and his grandmother was his agent. He studied film at the Academy of Art College.