Wright was born in The Bronx, New York City on April 21, 1957 and earned his first acting role in 1979, in The Warriors, for which he is best remembered. He co-starred in the film version of Hair that same year. In 1981, he appeared as a gang member in the film Ragtime and played Junior Jones in the 1984 film adaptation of John Irving's novel The Hotel New Hampshire. It was his last film role.