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About

Grizz Chapman

American television actor (1974–2026)

Grizz Chapman

Grizzwald "Grizz" Chapman was an American actor best known for his recurring role as Grizz on the NBC series 30 Rock.

Grizz Chapman

Grizz Chapman
Chapman at the 2009 SAG Awards
Born
Mack D. Chapman

(1974-04-16)April 16, 1974
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 22, 2026(2026-05-22) (aged 52)
OccupationActor
Years active2006–2021
Height6 ft 11 in (211 cm)[1]
Spouse
Diana Chapman
​
(m. 2002)​
Children2

Grizzwald "Grizz" Chapman (born Mack D. Chapman; April 16, 1974 – May 22, 2026) was an American actor best known for his recurring role as Grizz on the NBC series 30 Rock.

Life and career

Chapman was born Mack D. Chapman in Brooklyn on April 16, 1974.[2][3] Prior to acting he had worked as a bodyguard.[4]

Chapman had appeared in more than 80 episodes of the sitcom 30 Rock, where he and fellow actor Kevin Brown played members of Tracy Jordan's entourage.[4] In his commentary for the episode "Tracy Does Conan", Tracy Morgan revealed that they met when Chapman was working as a bouncer at a strip club. Chapman also revealed in an interview that there were originally meant to be four members of Jordan's entourage, and that he had to compete for the role.[5] Chapman and Kevin Brown were featured in a season six episode of Hidden Potential, a home remodeling show on HGTV.[6]

Chapman had severe hypertension and had been undergoing dialysis three days per week while filming 30 Rock episodes. He received a kidney transplant in July 2010 from a donor and fan of the show.[5][7] Due to his battle with his kidney disease, on March 31, 2010, Chapman became a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation.[8] He appeared on The Dr. Oz Show in December 2009 to raise awareness about hypertension and kidney disease.[9]

Standing at 7 feet tall, his career was limited by him often being typecast as large, imposing characters. He stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2013: “Why can’t I be a teacher? Why can’t I be a football coach? Why can’t I be a cab driver? Anything. Anything else than that. I can cry. I can do those things that they think the big guys can’t do. So just give us a chance.”[4] His other acting credits included appearances on the TV shows Blue Bloods, The Blacklist and the films Money Monster and The Cobbler.[4]

He created his own series of YouTube videos known as Grizz Chroniclez featuring him in variety sketches. In 2012, he was in production with writers Sam Morgan and Chadwick Prima for his own series called The Lair, based on the comic store Chapman owned in the Bronx.[10][11][12]

Chapman lived in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Woodbridge, Virginia. On December 2, 2024, his home was destroyed when a crash sent a tractor-trailer slamming into it. Chapman was not home but many of his belongings were damaged.[13]

Chapman died in his sleep on May 22, 2026, from chronic kidney disease, at the age of 52.[14][3][15] He is survived by his wife Diana and two children.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "'30 Rock' actor in need of kidney transplant - CNN.com". cnn.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ Ortiz, Aimee (May 23, 2026). "Grizz Chapman, Actor on '30 Rock,' Dies at 52". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Garner, Glenn (May 22, 2026). "Grizz Chapman Dies: '30 Rock' actor was 52". Deadline. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Cain, Sian (May 25, 2026). "Grizz Chapman, actor who played Grizz in 30 Rock, dies aged 52". TheGuardian.com. The Guardian.
  5. 1 2 Ortiz, Aimee (May 23, 2026). "Grizz Chapman, Actor on '30 Rock,' Dies at 52". NYTimes.com. New York Times.
  6. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (May 23, 2026). "Grizz Chapman, '30 Rock' Actor, Dies at 52". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "30 Rock Actor Grizz Chapman Gets A New Kidney, Speaks Up For Organ Donation". Huffingtonpost.com. August 4, 2010.
  8. ↑ "30 Rock Star Sounds Alarm for Silent Disease, Signs on as Spokesperson for National Kidney Foundation". Kidney.org.
  9. ↑ "'30 Rock' actor Grizzwald (Grizz) Chapman reveals severe kidney condition on 'Dr. Oz Show'". New York Daily News. December 13, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ The Night Before Grizzmas. YouTube. December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  11. ↑ "NYCC - 30 Rock's Grizz Chapman On His Career & His Boo Liz Lemon". Spinoff Online.
  12. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (September 6, 2017). "30 Rock's Grizz Chapman Braces for the End, Prepares for His Next Step". Comicbook.com. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ Albert, Jessica (December 3, 2024). "'30 Rock' actor's home destroyed in Woodbridge tractor-trailer crash". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Grizz Chapman, '30 Rock' Fan Favorite, Dead at 52". TMZ. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  15. ↑ Ali, Ayaan (May 23, 2026). "NBC sitcom actor dies aged 52 after lengthy health battle as fans share their heartbreak". MSN. Retrieved May 24, 2026.