Grizz Chapman, the actor best known for playing the gentle bodyguard Grizz on the hit comedy series 30 Rock, has died at the age of 52. His cousin, Harlem Globetrotter Donte Harrison, confirmed the death on social media, stating that Chapman died in his sleep on Friday after years of health struggles.
No official cause of death has been given, but Harrison noted that Chapman had been battling illness and undergoing dialysis for some time. The actor, who stood 7ft tall, was diagnosed with kidney disease and became a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. During his time on 30 Rock, he spent a year on dialysis three days a week, four hours a day, and received a kidney transplant in 2010.
Chapman was born in Brooklyn in 1974 and worked as a bouncer and bodyguard before switching to acting after earning $20,000 for a commercial. He credited his friend and future co-star Tracy Morgan for helping him secure his role on 30 Rock, where he appeared in 80 episodes from 2006 to 2013. After the show, he struggled with typecasting due to his height, expressing a desire to play diverse roles such as a doctor or teacher.
Tributes from co-stars included Kevin Brown, who played Dot Com, writing 'May he RIP,' and Judah Friedlander recalling Chapman's big laughs at table reads. Maulik Pancholy described him as 'so kind, so sweet' with a huge heart. Chapman also appeared in films and shows including The Cobbler, Money Monster, Blue Bloods, and The Blacklist.
