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Grizz Chapman, best known for his role in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, has passed away at the age of 52.
On Friday, May 22, the actor's long-time rep, Saideh A. Brown, confirmed the heartbreaking news to TMZ.
In an emotional tribute, Chapman's cousin, Harlem Globetrotter Donete Harrison, revealed that the actor died in his sleep "after years of fighting illness and dialysis".
"Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end," he added.
Harrison continued, "I'm thankful we got time to reconnect 2 months before his passing. Rest easy, cousin. Your name and legacy will live on forever."
Chapman previously struggled with kidney disease and was a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation.
Besides the NBC sitcom, Chapman appeared in several other films and shows, including The Black List and Blue Bloods.
Grizz Chapman's final Instagram post
Chapman's final Instagram post was shared on Sunday, where he could be seen dancing next to an image of 80s actor Sean Astin.
Fans flooded the comment section, expressing their shock and grief, as one comment read, "I'm not taking this one too well... I Love You Big Grizz!!!"
Born in April 1974 in Brooklyn, Chapman, who stood at seven feet tall, was working as a bouncer at a strip club when he met Tracy Morgan, who cast him and Kevin Brown as his self-referential character Tracy Jordan's two confidants Grizz and Dot Com in 30 Rock, which ran from 2006 to 2013.
