Members of the theater community have been sharing their condolences, including friend and costar Rob McClure, who called Grisetti a “brilliant” performer whose loss is “cataclysmic”

NEED TO KNOW

• Josh Grisetti has died by suicide at age 44
• The celebrated Broadway actor, educator and TV performer was known for his roles in Something Rotten! and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and taught musical theater at California State University, Fullerton
• Broadway stars, including Rob McClure, Sierra Boggess and Lea Salonga, shared tributes, calling Grisetti’s death a heartbreaking loss to the theater community

Josh Grisetti — the Broadway actor, television performer and beloved musical theater educator known for his work on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Something Rotten! and It Shoulda Been You — died by suicide on Friday, July 10, PEOPLE can confirm. He was 44.

The sad news was announced in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, July 12, by actor Rob McClure, who starred alongside Grisetti in Something Rotten! on Broadway and on the show’s national tour.

“It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday,” McClure wrote. “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.”

“[My wife] and I are beyond heartbroken,” added McClure, noting that he served as the best man at Grisetti’s wedding. “Communities around the world will never be the same without him.”

“We love you Josh. Just a cataclysmic loss,” said the actor. “Memorial info to come in time.”

In the comments of McClure’s tribute, many members of the Broadway community shared their condolences, including Rachel Zegler, Caissie Levy, Lea Salonga, Erika Henningsen, Drew Gehling and Donna Murphy — the latter of whom called Grisetti “a beautiful, gifted human and artist.”

Sierra Boggess, who starred opposite Grisetti in It Shoulda Been You on Broadway, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, writing in part, “We all loved him so unbelievably much. He created light and thought and humor everywhere he went. He was a BRILLIANT actor and director and writer.”

“I loved the way he looked at the world and how he challenged ideals and norms,” she continued. “I loved his humor and his brain and deep, deep philosophical conversations.”

Boggess added, “Our It Should Have Been You family was as close as can be and this is so heartbreaking I will be processing with the show family and all of you for a very long time. And all the other show families he made along the way.”

Grisetti was perhaps best known to television audiences for his recurring role as Ralph Emerson in the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, appearing in eight episodes. Earlier in his career, he starred opposite Donal Logue and Sofía Vergara in ABC’s short-lived 2007 sitcom The Knights of Prosperity.

Born in Washington, D.C., Grisetti grew up in Southwest Virginia. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, graduating in 2000 with a drama diploma, before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory in 2004.

His stage career flourished in New York. In 2015, Grisetti starred in the Broadway musical It Shoulda Been You alongside Boggess, Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, David Burtka, Montego Glover, Lisa Howard and Chip Zien.

The following year, he succeeded John Cariani as Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten!, starring opposite McClure’s Nick Bottom. The pair later spent more than a year touring the musical across the country.

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Other Broadway credits include Broadway Bound, Camelot in concert and numerous Off-Broadway productions including Rent, Peter and the Starcatcher, Enter Laughing, Red Eye of Love, Candida and After the Ball. His regional theater work included productions of Prince of Broadway in Tokyo, Matilda at The Muny, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot and Where’s Charley?

On screen, Grisetti also appeared in the films The Immigrant, Revolutionary Road and The Namesake. He was also the author of the book God in My Head.

In addition to performing, Grisetti devoted much of his career to teaching the next generation of artists. He served as head of the Musical Theatre program at California State University, Fullerton, after previously teaching acting, musical theater and the business of theater at Fullerton College and Loyola Marymount University.

He is survived by his wife of six years, real estate agent Mackenzie Grisetti, with whom he lived in Southern California.

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Just days before his death, Grisetti shared what would become his final public Instagram post.

In the upload, Grisetti explained that he had to leave his directing duties for Legally Blonde: The Musical at Italy’s Trentino Music Festival before opening night “for personal reasons” and thanked the cast for surprising him with a photo of themselves holding up his image on a phone.

“When you have to leave a production for personal reasons before getting to see the show open, and the cast and team do stuff like this…” he wrote. “Literally cried on the plane… little gestures go a long way when your heart is hurting… Love this group of misfits right back!! Happy opening, Legally Blonde… I’m so proud of you all.”

Students and cast members filled the comments with messages celebrating the impact he had on their lives.

“We missed you and are still missing you so dearly,” one wrote. “Thank you so much for pouring your knowledge into our gardens, you have grown so many flowers in me just throughout this last month… So insanely grateful to have you as a director and teacher.”

Another added, “Director supreme!! It has been so wonderful working with you. Grateful for your hilarity and kindness throughout this process.”

“Love you so so much Josh!!!” said a third. “Thank you so much for everything!! Best director EVAAAA!!”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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