Grizz Chapman, actor who played Grizz in 30 Rock, dies aged 52

Grizz Chapman, best known for playing Grizz on 30 Rock, died at age 52. His cousin Donte Harrison confirmed the death and said Chapman died in his sleep on Friday after years of fighting illness and dialysis. No cause of death was provided. Chapman was diagnosed with kidney disease and served as a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. During filming of 30 Rock, he underwent dialysis for about a year, three days a week for four hours a day, and later received a kidney transplant in 2010. Born in Brooklyn in 1974, he met Tracy Morgan while working as a bouncer and later transitioned from bodyguard work into acting. He credited Morgan and hard work for helping him keep the role on the show.

"Grizz Chapman, best known for his role as Grizz on the hit comedy 30 Rock, has died aged 52. His cousin, the Harlem Globetrotter Donte Harrison, confirmed Chapman's death on social media on Saturday. No cause of death has been given but Harrison said Chapman died in his sleep on Friday 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, Harrison wrote."

"The actor, who stood at 2.13 metres (7ft) tall, had been diagnosed with kidney disease and was a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. While filming 30 Rock he spent a year in dialysis treatments, three days at a week for four hours a day. He received a kidney transplant in 2010. Chapman was born in Brooklyn in 1974."

"Chapman was working as a bodyguard when he was cast in a commercial and decided to switch to acting. I made $20,000 for 40 minutes of work, so I thought I was in the wrong business at that point and I needed to change, he said in a 2012 interview with CBR. Despite changing careers for the money, Chapman loved the work: Once I got into acting, I realised it's more than just standing there. There's more to it. So I took some acting classes and developed the craft and fell in love with it."

"Chapman credited Morgan for helping him keep the job, telling CBR in 2012: 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. So Tracy said we're gonna keep just two guys, which included me. I made the cut. I worked hard to get there. I worked really hard. Chapman played Grizz in 80 ep"

Read at www.theguardian.com