Broadway star who appeared in Wicked and Mamma Mia! dies aged 38-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Chris Peluso starred in Broadway staples like Mamma Mia! and Wicked (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Broadway actor Chris Peluso, who starred in shows like Mamma Mia!, Miss Saigon and The Woman in White, has died at the age of 38.

The sad news was confirmed by the University of Michigan’s musical theatre department’s interim chair Linda Goodrich, who posted a tribute on the theatre’s official Instagram page. 

‘The Michigan Musical Theatre family is heartbroken as we announce the passing of our dear family member/alum, the loving, charismatic, and divinely gifted Chris Peluso,’ she wrote.

‘Chris appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia!, Assasins, Lestat, The Glorious Ones and Beautiful, played Fiyero on tour in Wicked and starred in London in Miss Saigon and Showboat. Our hearts go out to his family,’ Goodrich added. 

The cause of death is not clear.

The father-of-one suffered from a ‘schizoaffective disorder’ and underwent treatment in 2022 to deal with his ‘debilitating paranoia’ which prevented him from working.

In 2022, Peluso’s friends set up a GoFundMe page for him, in which they wrote of how he was receiving treatment in an inpatient mental health rehabilitation center in the US.

The disorder had left Peluso ‘unable to work any job’ and saw him leaving his wife and child to return to America for treatment.

They were trying to raise funds for his healthcare prior to his insurance kicking in, with his inpatient treatment costing up to $90,000 (£74,000). They raised over $25,000.

‘It’s not easy to share with the world something you have kept hidden for a long time, and we hope you can appreciate how difficult a decision it was for Chris to allow us to share his story for this fundraiser,’ they added.

The world of theatre and beyond are now paying their respects to the ‘kind,’ ‘funny,’ and ‘talented’ actor.

Actress Toni Trucks wrote: ‘This is devastating. I only have wonderful memories of Chris. I am holding tight to all of the light he shared. So kind. So funny. So giving. So talented and loving. ❤️’

‘Oh I am heartbroken. Some of the sweetest memories of summer musical theatre were with him and Mark Madama ♥️ sending so much love,’ wrote another friend.

Former co-star, John Haas, said: ‘I’m so very sad to hear about Chris Peluso’s passing and I’m so thankful to have shared the stage and barricade with him 15 years ago. 

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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