A star of the silver screen and the stage has just passed away. According to Entertainment Weekly, John Grisetti (Nurse Jackie, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), known for his work on Broadway and The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel, has died from an apparent suicide at the age of 44.
One of Grisseti’s close friends and co-stars on Broadway, Rob McClure (Elementary, Person Of Interest), took to Instagram to announce his passing. “It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday. I’m not ready to even attempt to understand,” he wrote. “My heart is with his wife and family as they try to deal with the reality of this,” McClure wrote in the post according to Entertainment Weekly.
“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 continued in his post.
Grisetti and McClure have shared the stage several times, once on Bottom Brothers in addition to the touring production Something Rotten.
When asked for comment, Grisetti’s agent Rick Ferrari said, “I’m absolutely devastated. That’s all I can say,” per Entertainment Weekly.
McClure concluded his post, “Communities around the world will never be the same without him. We love you Josh. Just a cataclysmic loss. Memorial info to come in time,” via Entertainment Weekly.
Many others in the theatre community went to the comments of McClure’s post to share condolences. Tony winner Donna Murphy (The Gilded Age, Brilliant Minds) wrote “truly devastating & heartbreaking news”. Rachel Zegler (West Side Story, Snow White) posted a red heart.
Erika Henningsen (The Four Seasons, Hazbin Hotel), one of Grisetti’s co-stars on Sherly Crow’s musical Dinner, shared several pictures of the actor on her page. She wrote, “Oh Josh. I just loved you. I wish you were still here. Thank you for changing my life. Thank you for making me laugh. For making me think. For making me question. For making me believe in myself,” per Entertainment Weekly.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Kelli Barrett (The Punisher, Fosse/Verdon), who worked with Grisetti on the off-Broadway production Knickerbocker Holiday, shared McClure’s post to her story and wrote, “I cannot believe this is real. He was truly such a wonderful human who gave so much to so many. I can’t believe I’m saying ‘was.’ I am shook.”
In addition to his time on Broadway Grisseti appeared in eight episodes of The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel as Ralph. His other credits include The Knights Of Prosperity, The Good Fight, and Nurse Jackie.