Grizz Chapman, the actor best known for playing ‘Tracy Jordan’s’ bodyguard, ‘Grizz’ on the hit NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, died on May 22, 2026. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 52. His longtime representative confirmed the sad news to the news outlet, TMZ. Grizz’s cousin, Harlem Globetrotter Donte ‘Hammer’ Harrison, shared on Instagram that he passed away following chronic health issues. His sudden demise left his friends, family and fans heartbroken. It also sparked an interest in his highly private personal life, particularly his wife, Diana Chapman.
Everything we know about Grizz Chapman’s wife and kids
Throughout his time in the spotlight as a fan favourite on NBC’s 30 Rock, Grizz Chapman kept his personal family life very private. Following his passing on May 22, 2026, statements from his representatives and family members confirmed that he is survived by his wife and children, who are deeply devastated by the loss. Reports suggest the actor was married to Diana Chapman. She stayed away from the spotlight and hasn’t made any public statement as of yet regarding her husband’s death.
No information regarding their family life is available except that they tied the knot in 2002. It indicates that the couple shared over two decades of marriage prior to his passing. Grizz and Diana have two kids together; however, their birth dates or genders aren’t publicly known. Grizz kept his relationship with Diana safely away from the media attention and lived a low-key life with her and their children in the later years of his life, while he was battling a serious illness. Diana supported him privately through his major life events, including his long-standing health struggles.
PC: NBC Universal
What was Grizz Chapman’s cause of death?
Grizz Chapman’s longtime representative, Saideh A Brown shared the news of his passing with TMZ. Sideh shared no details regarding the actor’s cause of death; however, his cousin offered some insight regarding his long-term health issues. His 30 Rock co-star, Kevin Brown (who played ‘Walter ‘Dotcom’ Slattery’) also shared the tragic news on his Facebook, captioning it as, “I regret to inform you that Mack Chapman aka Grizz Chapman passed today. May he RIP.”
Grizz’s cousin, Harlem Globetrotters team member, Donte ‘Hammer’ Harrison, revealed that the actor was silently dealing with “some heavy battles.” According to him, Grizz fought valiantly “with strength and dignity” until his last breath. A report by Hello! Magazine stated that the actor “openly battled kidney disease for many years and underwent a kidney transplant in 2010 after spending years on dialysis.” Talking about cousin, Hammer wrote:
“Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end. A lot of people knew him as the sitcom star from 30 Rock, but we knew the man behind the screen. A good heart, good energy, and somebody who made an impact in this life.”
PC: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Hammer’s poignant words focused on who the real Grizz Chapman was behind his on-screen persona. Hammer called Grizz a “good heart, good energy”, who lived a meaningful life. According to his statement, the 30 Rock star underwent dialysis for years before succumbing to the ailment. Hammer also recalled meeting his cousin just two months before he passed away, and was glad they got to reconnect. His exact words were:
“After years of fighting illness and dialysis, he passed peacefully in his sleep on May 22nd, 2026. I’m thankful we got time to reconnect 2 months before his passing. Rest easy, cousin. Your name and legacy will live on forever.”
Photos Credit: Donte Harrison/Instagram, Kevin Brown/Facebook
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Grizz Chapman’s family as they deal with this difficult time.
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