Grizz Chapman Dead at 52: Who Was the ’30 Rock’ Actor

Grizz Chapman, the actor best known for playing Tracy Jordan’s loyal bodyguard on NBC’s 30 Rock, died on Friday at 52 after years of battling kidney disease, his rep Saideh A. Brown told TMZ.

Chapman’s cousin Harlem Globetrotter Donte “Hammer” Harrison took to his Instagram account hours after the news of his death was made public, shedding light on the actor’s health issues that led to his untimely death.

“After years of fighting illness and dialysis, he passed peacefully in his sleep on May 22nd, 2026,” Harrison wrote on Instagram. “I’m thankful we got time to reconnect 2 months before his passing.”

“Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end,” Harrison added. “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.”

Who Was Grizz Chapman?

Grizz Chapman became a familiar face on 30 Rock through his role as Warren “Grizz” Griswold, one of Tracy Jordan’s closest associates on the Emmy-winning comedy series created by Tina Fey. His on-screen chemistry with Tracy Morgan helped make the character a fan favorite during the show’s seven-season run.

Before entering television, Chapman worked as a bouncer at a New York strip club, where he met Morgan. Their friendship eventually led to Chapman joining 30 Rock in a recurring role that expanded throughout the series.

“I worked hard to get the part, and a lot of people think that because Tracy and me are friends, I automatically got the part,” Chapman told CBR in 2012. “What I can say is that Tracy was an integral part in me keeping my job because there were four members of the entourage originally, but NBC came to Tina Fey and Tracy and said they couldn’t pay for all four.”

Later, he also appeared in shows such as The Black List and Blue Bloods, movies like Money Monster and even his own YouTube series.

According to reports, Grizz Chapman was married to Diana Chapman, with whom he had two children. The couple preferred to keep their personal life private.

Long Battle with Kidney Disease

Chapman publicly discussed his long struggle with kidney disease during his time on 30 Rock. He revealed he underwent dialysis treatments three times a week after being diagnosed in 2007, before receiving a kidney transplant in 2010.

Despite his health challenges, Chapman continued acting and largely kept details about his condition private.