Grizz Chapman, best known for starring in 30 Rock, has died at 52 years old.
According to TMZ, the actor passed away on Friday (May 22) and is survived by his wife and their 2 children.
Appearing in 80 episodes of 30 Rock, Chapman played Grizz, a childhood friend of Tracy Jordan (played by Tracy Morgan), and becomes a member of the comedian’s entourage as an adult. Chapman joined the 7-season show after meeting Morgan while working as a bouncer.
The Brooklyn native, who also appeared in shows The Blacklist and Blue Bloods, had a years-long battle with kidney disease and hypertension. In 2009, the entertainer appeared on The Dr. Oz Show to discuss needing a kidney transplant, which he received the following year.
Harlem Globetrotter player and cousin of Chapman, Donte "Hammer" Harrison, memorialized the late actor in an Instagram post on Friday.
"Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end," Harrison captioned the post, adding that his cousin was someone with "a good heart, good energy, and somebody who made an impact in this life."
"I’m thankful we got time to reconnect 2 months before his passing.
Rest easy, cousin. Your name and legacy will live on forever," he concluded.
