Updated July 13, 2026, 10:21 a.m. ET
Broadway star and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” actor Josh Grisetti has died. He was 44.
The actor died by suicide on Friday, July 10, his theater costar Rob McClure revealed in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday.
“It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday,” McClure captioned a set of photos featuring the two, including shots from what appears to be Grisetti’s wedding, where McClure served as his best man. “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.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Grisetti’s reps for comment.
In Grisetti’s last Instagram post, two days before his death, he noted he would have to leave the production of “Legally Blonde The Musical” at Trentino Music Festival in Italy “for personal reasons” before the show’s opening.
“Literally cried on the plane… little gestures go a long way when your heart is hurting…” he captioned photos of the cast in full costume, with one cast member holding a photo of Grisetti. In a video, the cast yelled, “We love you, Josh!”
He added, “Love this group of misfits right back!!”
Grisetti played Ralph, a comedy staff writer at “The Gordon Ford Show” in Season 5 of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” He starred in eight episodes of the period comedy. He played Louis in the first and only season of the 2007 ABC crime-comedy “The Knights of Prosperity.”
He also appeared in episodes of “The Good Fight” and “Nurse Jackie,” the TV movies “Like Magic,” “The Gates” and “The Superagent,” and the films “The Immigrant,” Public Interest” and “The Sandpiper.” He had uncredited appearances on “Men in Black 3” and “Revolutionary Road.”
In theater, the actor starred in the Broadway productions “It Shoulda Been You,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and the world premiere of “Something Rotten!” Over the course of nearly two decades on stage, his other credits included “Camelot,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” as well as in “Rent” as Mark Cohen, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” as Lumiere, “Matilda” as Mr. Wormwood and “SpongeBob SquarePants” as Plankton.
Grisetti was also head of the musical theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts program at California State University, Fullerton, and the author of the comedic spiritual memoir “God in My Head,” which tells the “true story of an ex-Christian who accidentally met God.”
Theater world pays tribute to Josh Grisetti
Many of his Broadway costars and theater alumni commented on McClure’s post and paid tribute, including Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and Tony winner Donna Murphy. Murphy wrote, “He was a beautiful, gifted human & artist. You & your family & Josh’s family & dearest ones are in my heart & highest thoughts & prayers.”
McClure called Grisetti’s death a “cataclysmic loss.”
“Some of my all-time favorite memories were by this man’s side, playing his brother onstage for years, watching him inspire students while transforming the Musical Theatre program at Cal State Fullerton … and having the honor of being the Best Man at his wedding,” McClure wrote. “Maggie and I are beyond heartbroken. Communities around the world will never be the same without him. We love you Josh.”
Grisetti is survived by his wife, realtor Mackenzie Grisetti.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
