John “Bobby” Wright, best known to viewers as Willy Moss, the radio operator aboard the PT-73, died on Tuesday, October 27, at his home in Madison, Tennessee.
He was 84.
Acting was only one part of his life
According to his obituary, Wright ”passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.” No cause of death was announced.
Wright appeared in all 138 episodes of McHale’s Navy, which ran on ABC from 1962 to 1966. The series starred Ernest Borgnine as the mischievous but lovable Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, alongside Joe Flynn and Tim Conway.
Set during World War II, the comedy followed the often chaotic adventures of a Navy crew whose antics were just as memorable as their military missions. Wright’s character, Willy Moss, became part of the ensemble that viewers came to know and love.
He also appeared with his fellow cast members in the films McHale’s Navy and McHale’s Navy Joins the Air Force. His obituary identifies him as the last surviving member of the show’s main cast.
But acting was only one part of Wright’s life. He came from one of country music’s most celebrated families.
Son of a music icon
His mother was legendary singer Kitty Wells, often called the first female superstar of country music. His father, Johnnie Wright, found success as one half of the popular country duo Johnnie & Jack.
Born John Robert Wright Jr. in Charleston, West Virginia, on March 30, 1942, Bobby was surrounded by music from an early age. He made his singing debut when he was just eight years old, performing alongside his parents and playing guitar on the influential radio and television program Louisiana Hayride.
The family moved to Nashville in 1958, as his parents became regular headliners at the Grand Ole Opry. After finishing high school, Wright headed to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
His big break came almost by accident. He had originally gone to Hollywood to audition for a proposed television role as a Southern youngster who could play guitar. Although that project never got off the ground, his screen test caught the attention of a producer working on McHale’s Navy.
His biggest hit
After his television career slowed down, Wright returned to music. Between 1967 and 1979, he recorded as a solo country artist for labels including Decca, ABC and United Artists, placing 21 singles on Billboard’s country chart.
His biggest hit was “Here I Go Again,” which reached No. 13 in 1971. Other recordings included “Lovin’ Someone on My Mind” and “Seasons in the Sun.”
He eventually reunited with his family professionally, appearing alongside his parents and sisters on the syndicated Kitty Wells Johnnie Wright Family Show. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he also played bass, trumpet and drums, and continued touring with the family until his parents retired from the road in 2007.
Wright’s parents both lived long lives. His father died in 2011 at the age of 97, followed by his mother in 2012 at 92. Now, with Bobby’s passing, another chapter in the family’s story has come to a close.
He is survived by his daughters, LeAnn Henson and Kamela Stewart, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, his sister Sue Sturdivant, and his former wife and “forever lifetime friend” Brenda Wright Moore, along with other relatives.
For those who remember settling in to watch McHale’s Navy, Wright’s passing is a poignant reminder of a television era that can never quite be recreated.
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