Josh Grisetti, ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ Actor and Broadway Star, Dies at 44

Josh Grisetti, a versatile actor and educator known for his roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and various Broadway productions, died by suicide on Friday, July 10. He was 44.

The news was first shared on July 12 via Instagram by actor Rob McClure, who described the loss as cataclysmic. McClure, who served as the best man at Grisetti's wedding, noted that he played Grisetti's brother on stage for years. He expressed that his heart is with Grisetti's wife and family as they face the reality of the situation.

Grisetti is survived by his wife of six years, real estate agent Mackenzie Grisetti, with whom he resided in Southern California.

A Career Across Stage and Screen

Television audiences recognized Grisetti from the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where he appeared in eight episodes as Ralph Emerson. His television credits also include the 2007 ABC sitcom The Knights of Prosperity, starring opposite Sofía Vergara and Donal Logue. On film, he appeared in Revolutionary Road, The Immigrant, and The Namesake.

His stage presence was a cornerstone of his professional life. Grisetti earned two Drama Desk Award nominations and performed in several Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. His credits include:

• Broadway: Something Rotten!, where he succeeded John Cariani as Nigel Bottom and toured the production for over a year, and It Shoulda Been You.
• Off-Broadway: Rent, Peter and the Starcatcher, Enter Laughing, Red Eye of Love, Candida, and After the Ball.
• Regional and Other: Spamalot, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Beauty and the Beast, Matilda at The Muny, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Diner, Broadway Bound, Camelot in concert, and Prince of Broadway in Tokyo.

Beyond performing, Grisetti was an author, writing the book God in My Head.

Dedication to Education

Grisetti's influence extended deeply into academia. He served as the head of the Musical Theatre program at California State University, Fullerton. Prior to that role, he taught acting, the business of theater, and musical theater at Loyola Marymount University and Fullerton College.

His agent, Rick Ferrari, described him in a statement on July 13 as a tremendous talent and the man of a thousand faces, noting that his students at Cal State Fullerton cherished him.

Former costar Sierra Boggess, who worked with Grisetti in It Shoulda Been You, praised his intellectual curiosity and his role as a teacher. Boggess described him as a BRILLIANT actor and director and writer who challenged ideals and norms.

Final Days and Tributes

On July 8, Grisetti shared his final public post on Instagram. In it, he announced he had to step away from directing a production of Legally Blonde: The Musical at the Trentino Music Festival in Italy for personal reasons before the show could open. He posted a photo of the cast holding up his image on a phone, writing that little gestures go a long way when your heart is hurting.

Following the announcement of his death, the theater community responded with widespread grief. Tony-winner Donna Murphy called him a beautiful, gifted human & artist. Other tributes came from actors including Ariana DeBose, Rachel Zegler, Lea Salonga, Erika Henningsen, Caissie Levy, and Drew Gehling.

Memorial information has not yet been released, though Rob McClure indicated that details would come in time.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or contact the 988 Lifeline.