30 Rock’s Grizz Chapman Dies at 52

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I was really saddened to hear about the passing of Grizzwald “Grizz” Chapman, best known as Grizz from 30 Rock. He was only 52. His cousin, Donte Harrison of the Harlem Globetrotters, shared the news online, saying Grizz faced a lot of health challenges over the years but fought them with incredible strength and grace. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 22nd, 2026, after battling illness and undergoing dialysis for a long time. His rep, Saideh A. Brown, confirmed it to TMZ, and his 30 Rock co-star Kevin Brown (who played Dot Com) also posted about it on Facebook.

While working as a bouncer at a strip club, Chapman met Tracy Morgan. He and Brown then landed roles as Tracy Jordan’s close friends and assistants, Grizz and Dot Com, on ’30 Rock’. In a 2012 interview with CBR, Chapman explained that despite their friendship, he had to audition and earn the part. He revealed that the original entourage had four members, but NBC asked Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan to reduce it to two. Tracy specifically advocated for Chapman to be one of the two who stayed, ensuring he kept his job. Chapman emphasized that he worked very hard to secure and maintain his position on the show.

Actor Peter Chapman often faced rejection in Hollywood because of his height. In a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he explained that casting directors would tell him they didn’t know how to market someone his size or that they already had an actor who looked like him. He pointed out that there wasn’t anyone else quite like a seven-foot-tall, friendly guy like himself. Beyond his role on 30 Rock, Chapman also created a YouTube series, appeared in a film with Method Man, and had guest roles on television shows like The Black List and Blue Bloods.

Morgan Chapman had kidney disease and received a kidney transplant in 2010. That same year, he began working with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness. He is remembered by his wife and two children. His cousin shared, “Many people knew Morgan as the actor from 30 Rock, but we knew him as a kind and energetic person who made a difference. We will always remember him.”

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2026-05-23 06:54