Josh Grisetti (1981–2026), an American actor, director, author, and university lecturer known for his work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, and musical-theater education, died on July 10, 2026, at the age of 44. His passing has drawn tributes from across the theater world, where he was remembered not only as a gifted performer but also as a teacher who helped shape younger artists.
Image: Josh Grisetti, recent profile photo
Source: TheaterMania
Grisetti first gained major attention in New York theater through The York Theatre Company’s 2008 production of Enter Laughing: The Musical. His performance earned him a 2009 Theatre World Awardand nominations from major theater organizations, helping establish him as a standout comic actor with unusual timing, warmth, and stage intelligence.
Image: Josh Grisetti in Enter Laughing
Source: TheaterMania
Although he was originally connected to the planned Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, that production was canceled before opening. His official Broadway debut came later, in 2015, when he appeared as Marty Kaufman in the musical comedy It Shoulda Been You. The role brought him further recognition, including Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations.
Grisetti then reached a wider Broadway audience through Something Rotten!, where he played Nigel Bottom as a replacement beginning in 2016. His Broadway credits also included It Shoulda Been You and Something Rotten!, while his Off-Broadway and regional work included productions such as Rent, Peter and the Starcatcher, Enter Laughing, Red Eye of Love, Candida, and After the Ball.
Beyond the stage, Grisetti appeared on television and in film. He was known to TV viewers for work including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and earlier screen roles such as The Knights of Prosperity. He also appeared in films including The Immigrant, Revolutionary Road, and The Namesake. His career was never limited to one format; he moved between Broadway, regional theater, television, film, writing, directing, and teaching.
One of the most important later chapters of his life was education. Grisetti served as Associate Professor and Head of the Musical Theatre BFA program at California State University, Fullerton, where he taught performance, auditioning, musical theater, and the professional skills needed by young actors. His own educator page also listed previous teaching work at Fullerton College and Loyola Marymount University.
He was also the author of God in My Head, a book that became part of his broader creative identity. To many students and colleagues, Grisetti represented a rare combination: a working Broadway actor who understood the pressures of professional theater, and a mentor willing to speak honestly about training, craft, and the business of performance.
A related Broadway name in the provided material is Michael Cavinder, an American actor, producer, director, and writer. Cavinder made his Broadway debut in The Fear of 13 in 2026, playing Man 5, and his regional credits include productions at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Laguna Playhouse, Musical Theatre West, and La Mirada.
