Grizzwald “Grizz” Chapman, an actor best known for starring opposite Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan on “30 Rock,” died on Friday. He was 52.
His longtime rep, Saideh A. Brown, confirmed the news to TMZ on Friday evening, sharing that the actor had passed away, leaving his wife and two children devastated. No additional details, including a cause of death, were shared at the time.
However, Chapman did have prior medical issues, undergoing a kidney transplant in July of 2010. He notably served as a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation, even discussing his struggles with hypertension and kidney disease on “The Dr. Oz Show” in 2009.
Additionally, Harlem Globetrotter Donte “Hammer” Harrison took to Instagram as word broke of Chapman’s passing and paid tribute to the late actor.
“Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end,” he wrote alongside a picture of them together. “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 2 months before his passing. Rest easy, cousin. Your name and legacy will live on forever.”
Chapman, a performer known for being over seven feet tall, was born April 16, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York. He found his way into the industry after meeting Morgan while working as a bouncer in a strip club. He was later cast to play an entourage member, also named Grizz, opposite Morgan’s “30 Rock” character, Tracy Jordan.
Outside of his work on “30 Rock,” Chapman also created his own YouTube variety series, titled “Grizz Chronicles,” and landed credits on a variety of TV and film projects, including “Money Monster,” “The Cobbler,” “The Good Fight,” “The Blacklist” and “Commons Sense Police.”
