The family of actor Josh Grisetti has launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for his memorial expenses following his death by suicide last week. Grisetti was 44 years old.
"Our hearts are profoundly broken by the sudden passing of Josh Grisetti this past Friday at the age of 44," read a statement on the crowdfunding platform. The family noted that "Josh was a luminous force across Broadway, television, film, and academia, leaving an indelible imprint on the global creative community."
The funds raised will "directly cover Josh’s final arrangements, provide essential support for family, and ease the time-sensitive travel logistics of bringing our families together." The GoFundMe further stated, "Your generosity allows us to focus entirely on grieving and supporting one another rather than navigating administrative strain."
Any additional funds will be used for "the purpose of bringing closure and managing immediate end-of-life logistics" and will be donated to the Entertainment Community Fund, an organization that supports professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry. "We are honored to support their mission in Josh’s memory," Grisetti’s family concluded.
The GoFundMe has already raised over $30,000, including contributions from Broadway Cares and actress Rachel Zegler.
Grisetti was known for his work on Broadway and in television, appearing in productions such as "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." His friend and fellow Broadway star Rob McClure shared the news of his passing on Instagram, expressing his grief and sending condolences to Grisetti's wife and family.
In the days preceding his death, Grisetti announced he was leaving the production of "Legally Blonde: The Musical" for "personal reasons." He shared a post on Instagram expressing gratitude for his castmates' support, including a photo of them holding up his image on stage and a video of them shouting, "We love you, Josh!" Grisetti captioned the post, "When you have to leave a production for personal reasons before getting to see the show open, and the cast and team do stuff like this… 🥹🥹😭."
Grisetti is survived by his wife of six years, Mackenzie Grisetti. The family has requested that those wishing to express condolences also share memories in the GoFundMe comments or keep them in their thoughts.
For those affected by issues raised in this story, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255), and the Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting 741741.