Michael Wright's first marriage and daughter have drawn attention following the 'Five Heartbeats' star's death at 70. Before Susan Wright, he was married to a Hong Kong-based writer.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleMichael Wright, best remembered for playing 'Eddie King Jr.' in The Five Heartbeats, died on August 21, 2026, at the age of 70. Despite his five-decade acting career, the actor kept much of his personal life away from Hollywood. Following his death, attention has turned to the actor's surviving family, including his first marriage and the daughter he shared with his former wife, Mitzie Lau.
Yes! Susan was not the first wife of Michael Wright. Before her, he was married to Mitzie for a little over five years. After his demise, Susan described him as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend. While she named his five children in her tribute, the family has continued to maintain a high level of privacy around their personal lives.
Michael Wright’s first wife was Mitzie Lau, a Hong Kong-born writer who previously worked as a real estate broker in New York City. According to the actor's profile on IMDb, he married Mitzie Lau in November 1994. Lau largely stayed away from the Hollywood spotlight during their marriage, choosing to keep her personal and family life private.
The couple’s relationship came years after Wright appeared in the 1987 Japanese film Bedtime Eyes. The film, directed by Tatsumi Kumashiro and based on Amy Yamada’s novel, starred Wright as 'Spoon', a Black American serviceman, opposite Japanese actress Kanako Higuchi. The film made him part of one of the first "Blasian" (Black and Asian) couples to lead a mainstream Japanese film production.
Wright and Lau remained married for around five years before their divorce was finalized in January 2000. The former couple shared one daughter, but very little information about her has been made public. The couple did not appear to place their child in the spotlight. Her name, age, and current whereabouts have not been disclosed in reliable public sources. That privacy has continued following Wright’s death.
After his first marriage ended, Michael married Susan Wright, and the couple remained together till his death. Based on how his family has described him, he spent his final years deeply loved, cherished, and appreciated.
There is no verified public information about where Wright's daughter currently lives or what she does. Given that she has remained outside the entertainment spotlight, there is also no reliable basis for claims about her personal or professional life. The family’s decision to keep her away from public attention appears to have remained consistent over the years.
In fact, Wright's family life remained strictly private all these years, and it was only after his death that Susan publicly talked about his children. Susan Wright’s statement following the actor's death also focused on protecting the family’s privacy. She named Wright’s five children as Manon Wright, Byron Barr, Brittney Briggs, Brianna Barr, and Sir Barr, along with his grandchild, Yoko, but did not provide details about which children were from which relationship.
Although Wright’s family life remained largely private, his professional legacy is well documented. Before becoming Eddie King Jr. in The Five Heartbeats, Wright earned the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1983 Venice Film Festival for Streamers. He later appeared in projects including The Wanderers, V, Sugar Hill, and HBO’s Oz. Still, his portrayal of 'Eddie King Jr.', the fictional R&B singer whose career is derailed by addiction, remains his most iconic performance.
After his passing, Susan Wright revealed in her statement on Instagram that Michael was loved by his fans, but as a dad and friend. For those who shared a deep personal relationship with him, he was more than what the world had seen him to be. She wrote:
"Michael, your work will live forever, but your love will live even longer in the hearts of those who knew you best. Rest peacefully, my love. You will be missed beyond words."
As of now, the family has refrained from sharing further details about what led to the actor's death or regarding Wright's funeral or memorial plans. Susan said they would share information about his life and legacy when they were ready. There are no reports of his first wife making any public statements after his passing.
Were you aware of Michael Wright's first marriage and his lesser-known work in Japanese cinema?
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