Josh Grisetti, Broadway actor and Cal State Fullerton professor, dies at 44

Broadway actor, author and California State University, Fullerton professor Josh Grisetti has died at the age of 44, according to Playbill.

Dig deeper:

Playbill reported that Grisetti died on Friday, July 10. Friends and former co-stars Sierra Boggess and Rob McClure announced his death in separate Instagram posts, saying he died by suicide. He is survived by his wife, Mackenzie Grisetti.

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The backstory:

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1981, Grisetti grew up in Rocky Mount, Virginia. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory in 2004.

Grisetti launched his New York stage career with the York Theatre's 2008 Off-Broadway production of "Enter Laughing," earning the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance along with nominations for the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Drama League awards.

Although his planned Broadway debut in a revival of Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound" was canceled shortly before opening, Grisetti later appeared on Broadway in a 2011 concert staging of "Camelot." He officially made his Broadway debut in "It Shoulda Been You," originating the role of Marty Kaufman. His performance earned widespread critical praise, along with Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations and the 2015 Clarence Derwent Award.

Grisetti later joined the Broadway cast of "Something Rotten!" as Nigel Bottom after replacing original star John Cariani. He also originated the role on the musical's first national tour from 2017 to 2018. His more recent stage credits included "Ragtime" at La Mirada Theatre in 2023 and "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical" at Broadway Sacramento in 2024. Over the years, he also appeared in La Mirada productions of "Beauty and the Beast," "Matilda" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

In addition to his theater work, Grisetti appeared in television productions including ABC's "The Knights of Prosperity," NBC pilots "The Gates" and "Like Magic," and had a recurring role as comedy writer Ralph during the final season of Amazon Prime's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

Grisetti was also the author of the 2016 memoir "God in My Head: The True Story of an Ex-Christian Who Accidentally Met God," which chronicled his spiritual journey following a near-death experience.

In recent years, Grisetti focused on higher education. After becoming the first graduate of Loyola Marymount University's MFA in Performance Pedagogy program in 2020, he joined the faculty at California State University, Fullerton, where he became a tenured professor of Theatre and Dance. According to Playbill, he helped redesign the university's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre program and was known for emphasizing practical, industry-based training for students.

Outside the classroom, Grisetti built a large following on TikTok and Instagram by offering candid advice about theater education, college audition programs, student debt and careers in the performing arts. He also reviewed productions and shared stories from his own career, earning praise from students and fellow performers for his openness and mentorship.

What they're saying:

In tributes shared on social media, Boggess remembered Grisetti for challenging conventional thinking and encouraging thoughtful conversations, while McClure described his death as a "cataclysmic loss" for the theater community, according to Playbill.

If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Line for free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and CLICK HERE for more on the 988 Lifeline.

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