Actor Michael Wright, star of 'The Five Heartbeats' and 'The Principal', dies at 70

Michael Wright, the actor best known for his roles in The Five Heartbeats, The Principal and the science-fiction series V, has died at the age of 70.

Wright's family confirmed his death in a statement, though a cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Born in New York City, Wright built a career across film and television over several decades. He first became widely recognised for his work on V, the 1980s science-fiction television franchise in which he played Elias Taylor.

He went on to appear in a number of notable films, including 1987's The Principal, starring James Belushi, and Eddie Murphy's The Five Heartbeats, directed by Robert Townsend.

In The Five Heartbeats, Wright played Eddie King, one of the members of the fictional R&B vocal group at the centre of the 1991 musical drama. The film followed the group's rise to fame, internal conflicts and struggles within the music industry, with Wright's performance becoming one of his most memorable roles.

Wright also appeared in films including Sugar Hill, The Golden Child, The Interpreter and Passion Fish, while continuing to work regularly in television.

His television credits included appearances on Miami Vice, The Equalizer, New York Undercover, Oz, Law & Order and The Blacklist. He also returned to the V universe in later years.

Wright's death marks the loss of an actor whose career stretched across drama, crime, science fiction and music-focused films. While he worked consistently across several decades, his performances in The Five Heartbeats and V remain among the roles for which he is most fondly remembered.

Wright was 70. His family has not publicly announced a cause of death.