Josh Grisetti, the Broadway performer, television actor and musical theater educator known for Something Rotten!, It Shoulda Been You and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, has died. He was 44.
People confirmed that Grisetti died by suicide on Friday, July 10. USA Today also reported his death, while Page Six covered the tributes that followed from the Broadway community.
Grisetti built a career across stage, screen and education, leaving behind colleagues, students and friends who described him as both a gifted performer and a generous mentor.
Rob McClure Announced the Loss
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Actor Rob McClure, who starred with Grisetti in Something Rotten!, shared the news in an emotional Instagram tribute. McClure called Grisetti a brilliant performer and said his heart was with Grisetti’s wife and family.
McClure also noted that he had been the best man at Grisetti’s wedding. His post made clear how deeply Grisetti was loved not only as a colleague, but as a close friend inside the theater world.
Broadway Stars Shared Tributes
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People reported that many theater performers responded to McClure’s post, including Rachel Zegler, Lea Salonga, Donna Murphy, Caissie Levy and Erika Henningsen.
Sierra Boggess, who starred opposite Grisetti in It Shoulda Been You, also shared a separate tribute. Boggess remembered him as a brilliant actor, director and writer who brought humor, thought and light into the rooms he entered.
Her tribute emphasized how close the It Shoulda Been You cast remained and how difficult the loss is for that show family.
Grisetti Built a Career Across Stage and Screen
Grisetti made his Broadway debut in It Shoulda Been You in 2015 and later played Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten!, both on Broadway and on tour.
His additional stage credits included Broadway Bound, Camelot in concert, Rent, Peter and the Starcatcher, Enter Laughing, Red Eye of Love, Candida and After the Ball.
Television audiences knew him as Ralph Emerson in the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His other screen credits included The Knights of Prosperity, The Immigrant, Revolutionary Road and The Namesake.
He Also Taught the Next Generation
Beyond performing, Grisetti was an educator. People reported that he served as head of the Musical Theatre program at California State University, Fullerton, after also teaching at Fullerton College and Loyola Marymount University.
He also authored the book God in My Head. People reported that Grisetti is survived by his wife, Mackenzie Grisetti.
His Final Post Mentioned Leaving a Production
Just days before his death, Grisetti wrote on Instagram that he had left a directing role for Legally Blonde: The Musical at Italy’s Trentino Music Festival for personal reasons.
Entertainment Weekly reported that Grisetti thanked the cast for a supportive gesture after they included a photo of him in a group shot. In the post, he wrote that small gestures matter when someone’s heart is hurting and said he was proud of the cast as the show opened.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, emotional distress or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the U.S. and Canada, or contact a local crisis line in your country for immediate support.