Grizz Chapman has tragically died at the age of 52.
The fan-favorite 30 Rock star Grizzwald “Grizz” Chapman reportedly died on Friday, May 22, per his longtime rep Saideh A. Brown told TMZ the news but no other details regarding his death were released.
Grizz played a character of the same name on the long-running Emmy-winning NBC sitcom. He was also known for his variety sketch video series on YouTube called “Grizz Chroniclez.”
He was born in Brooklyn on April 16, 1974 and reached an impressive height of seven feet tall. According to Deadline, he was working as a bouncer when he met Tracy Morgan, who then cast Grizz and Kevin Brown as his characters primary two confidants on 30 Rock.
Outside of the sitcom and his YouTube series, Grizz also appeared in episodes of The Good Fight, The Blacklist, and Blue Bloods.
He leaves behind a wife and two children.
While no official cause of death has been shared, Hello! Magazine reveals that the actor “openly battled kidney disease for many years and underwent a kidney transplant in 2010 after spending years on dialysis.”
His cousin, Donte “Hammer” Harrison of the Harlem Globetrotters shared an emotional tribute to him on Instagram.
“Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end,” he wrote. “A lot of people knew him as the sitcom star from 30 Rock, but we knew the man behind the screen. A good heart, good energy, and somebody who made an impact in this life.”
He continued: “After years of fighting illness and dialysis, he passed peacefully in his sleep on May 22nd, 2026. I’m thankful we got time to reconnect two months before his passing. Rest easy, cousin. Your name and legacy will live on forever.”
We’re sending our thoughts and condolences to Grizz‘s loved ones during this difficult time. We’ve tragically lost many other celebrities already in 2026.
Posted To:Grizz Chapman RIP
