What Ever Happened to the Cast of ALF?

Willie Tanner was the kind-hearted but perpetually stressed social worker trying to keep his suburban home (and sanity) intact while living with a wisecracking alien. Wright gave Willie a perfect mix of warmth and exasperation—an ordinary guy holding on for dear life in an extraordinary situation.

Before ALF, Max Wright had built a strong stage and television career, appearing in shows like Buffalo Bill and Cheers. He wasn’t a flashy actor, but a steady, believable one. That grounded energy made Willie Tanner work—it felt like there was a real dad trying to manage an impossible houseguest.