Josh Grisetti, an actor featured in Amazon Prime’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and several Broadway productions, died July 10 at 44.
Broadway veteran and “Avenue Q” star Rob McClure announced Grisetti’s death on Instagram Sunday, revealing Grisetti had died of suicide.
“It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday,” McClure captioned a set of photos featuring the two, including shots from what appears to be Grisetti’s wedding, where McClure served as his best man. “I’m not ready to even attempt to understand. My heart is with his wife and family as they try to deal with the reality of this.”
Grisetti’s Broadway credits included ‘Matilda’, ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’
Grisetti was born on Dec. 1, 1981 in Washington D.C. and grew up in Rocky Mount, Virginia. He graduated high school in 2000 at the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts, known for producing actors like Anthony Mackie, Joe Mantello and Isaac Powell. Grisetti then went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory in 2004.
On Broadway, Grisetti starred in “It Shoulda Been You,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and the world premiere of “Something Rotten!” Other credits included “Camelot,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Matilda” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
However, his most notable role was in Season 5 of Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” where he played Ralph, a comedy staff writer at “The Gordon Ford Show.”
On screen, Grisetti also appeared in episodes of “The Good Fight” and “Nurse Jackie.” He had uncredited appearances on “Men in Black 3” and “Revolutionary Road.”
Grisetti’s most recent venture had been as a professor in the musical theater Bachelor of Fine Arts program at California State University, Fullerton, among other coaching and mentoring roles in Off-Broadway productions across the world.
In Grisetti’s last Instagram post, two days before his death, he noted he would have to leave the production of “Legally Blonde The Musical” at Trentino Music Festival in Italy “for personal reasons” before the show’s opening.
Theater world pays tribute to Josh Grisetti
Many other Broadway stars paid tribute to Grisetti, including “The Little Mermaid” star Sierra Boggess, composer Jason Robert Brown, Rachel Zegler and Donna Murphy.
“He created light and thought and humor everywhere he went,” Boggess said in a post Sunday. “His students are so lucky they had him as their teacher.”
McClure called Grisetti’s death a “cataclysmic loss.”
“Some of my all-time favorite memories were by this man’s side, playing his brother onstage for years, watching him inspire students while transforming the Musical Theatre program at Cal State Fullerton … and having the honor of being the Best Man at his wedding,” McClure wrote. “Maggie and I are beyond heartbroken. Communities around the world will never be the same without him. We love you Josh.”
Grisetti is survived by his wife, realtor Mackenzie Grisetti.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Josh Grisetti, known for ‘Mrs. Maisel’ and Broadway roles, dead at 44
Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alexandra Rivera, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
