It has been two decades since the beloved comedy series 30 Rock first aired on NBC. The show, created by Tina Fey, offered a chaotic behind-the-scenes look at the production of a fictional live sketch-comedy show set in New York City. Over its seven-season run, it garnered 90 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won 16, including three consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series trophies. While some cast members soared to new heights after the show ended in 2013, others faced challenges. On May 23, it was announced that Grizz Chapman, who played a recurring character also named Grizz, had died at age 52 after struggling with health issues. Here, we explore the varied fates of the 30 Rock cast.
Grizz Chapman
Grizz Chapman was beloved for his role as Grizz, the childhood friend and assistant of Tracy Morgan's character Tracy Jordan. The character had a sordid past with Tina Fey's Liz Lemon. 30 Rock was Chapman's first professional acting gig, but he went on to appear in films like The Cobbler and Money Monster, as well as TV shows such as Blue Bloods and The Blacklist. Sadly, Chapman died at 52 after struggling to stay alive, according to his manager Renee Glicke. He needed a new kidney transplant but had difficulty finding a donor due to his seven-foot-tall frame; he had previously received a kidney transplant in July 2010. His cousin wrote on social media that he died in his sleep after years of fighting illness and undergoing dialysis. He is survived by his wife Diana Chapman and their two children.
Tina Fey
Tina Fey is widely considered one of the greatest comedians of her generation. The Saturday Night Live alum created 30 Rock and starred as Liz Lemon, the head writer of the fictional sketch show TGS. She won two Golden Globe Awards for her performance. Since the show ended, Fey has created and written the Netflix series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, served as showrunner of Mr. Mayor, and appeared in Hulu's Only Murders in the Building. In 2023, she toured with Amy Poehler and reprised her role as Ms. Norbury in the 2024 musical Mean Girls. Fey has amassed a net worth of $75 million, but told W Magazine in 2025 that having enough money to live is all she needs.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin played Jack Donaghy, the NBC executive who becomes Liz Lemon's boss and friend. He had a notable career before 30 Rock, including an Oscar nomination in 2004. After the show, he continued acting in films like Still Alice (2014) and The Boss Baby (2017) and its 2021 sequel. In 2021, Baldwin was involved in a tragic accident on the set of the film Rust, where a loaded firearm fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but charges were dropped in 2024. Baldwin has since expressed a desire to retire and stay home with his wife Hilaria and their seven children, stating on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast that he no longer wants to work.
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan played Tracy Jordan, the erratic actor who joins TGS. Since the show, he has starred in The Last O.G. (2018) and The Santa Clauses (2023), and currently appears in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. Morgan has faced health battles, including Type 2 diabetes diagnosed in 1996, kidney surgery in 2010, and a severe car accident in 2014 that left him with multiple injuries. In March 2025, he vomited at a New York Knicks game but clarified on social media that it was due to food poisoning.
Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski played Jenna Maroney, the fame-obsessed star of TGS. After 30 Rock, she returned to the stage in She Loves Me (2016), earning a Tony nomination. She also appeared in Dickinson (2019) and Schmigadoon! (2021), and most recently portrayed Mary Todd Lincoln in the historical farce Oh, Mary!
Jack McBrayer
Jack McBrayer played Kenneth Parcell, the NBC page with a moral compass. Since the show, he has amassed numerous credits, particularly in voice acting, including The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), and New Looney Toons (2020).
Scott Adsit
Scott Adsit played Pete Hornberger, a TGS producer. His post-30 Rock projects include Harvey Beaks (2015) and Wolverine (2018), as well as voice work in American Dad! (2018) and Inside Job (2022).
Keith Powell
Keith Powell played James Toofer Spurlock, a TGS writer. After 30 Rock, he appeared in About a Boy (2014) and Connecting (2020), and began a television directing career in 2018 with an episode of Superstore. He has since directed episodes of Dickinson, Single Drunk Female, Interview with the Vampire, and So Help Me Todd.
Kevin Brown
Kevin Dotcom Brown played Walter Slattery on 30 Rock. He had prior credits including Cracking Up and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. After the show, he worked on films like Coach of the Year (2015), Ocean's 8 (2018), and Love Magick (2023).
