An actor noted for Broadway and television roles and for teaching musical theatre at Cal State Fullerton has died, according to a report Sunday.
John Grisetti, 44, died Friday, fellow actor Rob McClure announced via Instagram, calling Grisetti’s death “Just a cataclysmic loss.” McClure said Grisetti died by suicide.
“I’m not ready to even attempt to understand,” McClure wrote. “My heart is with his wife and family as they try to deal with the reality of this. 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. Maggie and I are beyond heartbroken. Communities around the world will never be the same without him.”
Sierra Boggess starred opposite Grisetti in “It Shoulda Been You” on Broadway. She posted on officialsierraboggess: “He created light and thought and humor everywhere he went. He was a brilliant actor and director and writer. His students are so lucky they had him as their teacher. I loved the way he looked at the world and how he challenged ideals and norms.”
Grisetti was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Southwest Virginia, according to People Magazine. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory in 2004.
Grisetti starred in the musical “It Shouda Been You” on Broadway in 2015, and starred opposite McClure in “Something Rotten!” among many theatre credits.
He also appeared in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on television.
Grisetti first taught acting, musical theatre and the business of theatre at Fullerton College and Loyola Marymount University, then headed the musical theatre program at Cal State Fullerton.
He lived in Southern California with his wife of six years, real estate agent Mackenzie Grisetti.