Broadway actor Chris Peluso is dead at the age of 40

Chris Peluso, actor and singer known for his theatrical work including Mama Mia! on Broadway, at the age of 40.

according to playbillThe Peluso family confirmed that the artist died suddenly on August 15. He is survived by his wife, Jessica Gomez, whom he married in 2018, and their two young children: daughter Aria Lee and son Kaiu Lien.

Peluso’s alma mater, University of Michigan, too Post a tribute to the late star on the Instagram page of the Musical Theater Department.

“The Michigan Musical Theater family is saddened as we announce the passing of our dear family member/alum, the loving, charismatic, and divinely gifted Chris Peluso,” Linda Goodrich, interim chair of the school’s Musical Theater Department, wrote.

Goodrich has epitomized some of Peluso’s notable roles, including Broadway in the killers (his first appearance in Great White Way), Lestat, glorious And Beautiful: Carole King the Musical. He also played the role of Skye Mama Mia! on Broadway in 2008, and had a touring role as Fierro in evil.

“Our hearts go out to his family,” Goodrich added.

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Tributes poured in for Peluso after news of his death, including from songwriter and fellow UM alum Justin Paulwho left a series of prayer emojis in the comments section of the school’s social media greeting post.

Fellow Broadway star Daisy Oakley wrote, “I learned so much from his kindness and professionalism 🤍 I am sending so much love to everyone who walked so closely with him.”

Aside from the aforementioned US-based shows, Peluso has appeared in London productions of the Show Boat, Miss SaigonAnd The woman in white And Death takes a vacationfor every Playbill.comas well as a UK tour funny girl. He also performed in productions West Side Story And Les Miserables, as Tony and Marius, respectively.

according to Peluso’s biography On the Artists and Beyond website, he’s also been pursuing a master’s degree in therapeutic counseling, in part to “help students overcome the fears inherent in a career in the arts.”

last september, GoFundMe has been launched On Peluso’s behalf, he solicited contributions for mental health treatment amid a prior diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder that had “infested Chris with debilitating paranoia, which has prevented him from performing in recent years.”

In a November update to GoFundMe, which raised more than $25,000 before donations paused, Peluso wrote that he had completed treatment and was “stable and doing well.”

He added, “I am able to hold down a job again and have even started recording some auditions.” “It will be a lifelong process of going through therapy and working with the doctors, but I am so much better than I was before treatment. It really means having such amazing support from all of you. None of this progress would have been possible without you.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be contacted by a certified crisis counselor.