We now know what happened to former child star Benji Gregory.
As we previously reported, his sister Rebecca Pfaffinger revealed in July that the 46-year-old ALF alum was found dead in his car in the parking lot of a Chase Bank in Peoria, Arizona, back on June 13. His service dog, a pug named Hans, was in the vehicle with him and also passed away. Heartbreaking.
She thought Benji had gone to the bank the previous day to deposit residual checks from his entertainment work and fell asleep in the vehicle. According to Rebecca, the actor had bipolar disorder, depression, and a sleep disorder that would keep him awake for days sometimes. It is believed the sleep disorder caused him to pass out in his car, leading him to die from vehicular heat stroke hours later. However, the official cause of death was not revealed… until now.
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According to the Maricopa Medical Examiner’s report form obtained by Page Six on Friday, Benji’s death has been ruled an accident. The medical examiner determined he suffered from “environmental heat exposure in the setting of hepatic cirrhosis” – meaning his liver formed scar tissue. Per the National Library of Medicine, following “chronic injury, most of the liver tissue becomes fibrotic, leading to loss of function and the development of cirrhosis.” So tragic.
Our hearts continue to go out to Benji’s loved ones. Reactions to the cause of death? Let us know in the comments.
[Image via Benji Gregory/Instagram, ALF/YouTube]
