Josh Grisetti, the Broadway actor and California State University, Fullerton theater professor known for his roles in “It Shoulda Been You” and “Something Rotten!,” died by suicide Friday morning at his home. He was 44. Family and close friends confirmed the death, which was first shared publicly by his longtime stage partner and friend Rob McClure.
McClure, who played opposite Grisetti as Nick Bottom to his Nigel in the Broadway and touring productions of “Something Rotten!,” wrote on social media that he was still struggling to process the loss and extended his sympathy to Grisetti’s wife and family. Fellow performer Sierra Boggess, who co-starred with Grisetti in “It Shoulda Been You,” described him as a brilliant actor, director and writer who brought humor and deep curiosity to every room he entered.
Grisetti built his career across regional and New York stages before landing his Broadway debut in 2015 as Marty Kaufman in “It Shoulda Been You,” a performance that earned him the Clarence Derwent Award for most promising male actor. He later took over the role of Nigel Bottom in “Something Rotten!” opposite McClure. On screen, he appeared in the final season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” as comedy writer Ralph Emerson and had earlier starred in the ABC sitcom “The Knights of Prosperity.”
In recent years, Grisetti shifted much of his focus to teaching, leading the musical theater program at Cal State Fullerton after earning a master’s degree in performance pedagogy from Loyola Marymount University. He built a following on TikTok and Instagram for videos examining the costs and structure of college theater training, and he published a memoir in 2016 recounting a near-death experience following a medical emergency years earlier.
Just days before his death, Grisetti had posted about stepping away from directing a production of “Legally Blonde” at the Trentino Music Festival in Italy for personal reasons, thanking the cast for their support as he left. He is survived by his wife, Mackenzie, whom he married in 2020.
This piece discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text in the U.S.
