Broadway actor/singer Chris Peluso, star of musicals akin to Mamma Mia! and Elton John’s Lestat has died at 40. Playbill reported that Peluso’s household confirmed that he died on Tuesday (Aug. 15), a yr after he took a break from theater work to hunt therapy for schizoaffective dysfunction; Billboard was unable to independently verify Peluso’s dying at press time.
The actor’s alma mater, the College of Michigan, posted a tribute on the varsity’s musical theater division Instagram that learn, “The Michigan Musical Theatre household is heartbroken as we announce the passing of our expensive member of the family/alum, the loving, charismatic, and divinely gifted Chris Peluso… Our hearts exit to his household.”
Peluso first gained consideration on Broadway as an understudy within the 2004 Tony-winning revival of Assassins and as understudy for the roles of Louis and Nicolas in Lestat. He went on to hitch the ensemble for the unique touring firm of Depraved in 2005 and tackle the position of Fiyero in a 2009 nationwide tour, in addition to Sky in Mamma Mia!, Marius in Les Miserables and Tony in West Facet Story.
The versatile actor additionally additionally appeared in various musicals in London’s West Finish, together with enjoying Gaylord Ravenal in a revival of Present Boat in 2016 and Sir Percival Glyde in The Lady in White in 2017, in addition to showing in Miss Saigon and Dying Takes a Vacation.
The actor/singer additionally took on three lead elements in Lovely: The Carole King Musical in 2014, understudying for the roles of Gerry Goffin, Don Kirshner and Barry Mann.
Peluso is survived by his spouse, Jessica Gomes — whom he married in 2018 — and two younger youngsters. A GoFundMe was began in September on Peluso’s behalf, in search of contributions to assist the actor pursue therapy for the intense psychological well being dysfunction, which reportedly induced him to expertise “debilitating paranoia” that stored him from performing in recent times.
The Mayo Clinic defines schizoaffective dysfunction as a psychological well being “marked by a mix of schizophrenia signs, akin to hallucinations or delusions, and temper dysfunction signs, akin to melancholy or mania.”
The funding web page famous that Peluso lacked medical health insurance within the U.S. and had left his spouse and youngsters to hunt therapy at an inpatient psychological well being rehab middle in Tennessee.
A November replace to the funding drive, which raised greater than $25,000, contained a observe from Peluso, who stated he had accomplished therapy and was “steady and doing nicely.” On the time, he wrote, “The brand new medicine I’m on works nicely to maintain my signs in verify and has minimal unintended effects. I’m in a position to maintain down a job once more and even started taping some auditions. It’s going to be a life lengthy means of going to remedy and dealing with medical doctors however I’m so a lot better than I used to be earlier than therapy. It actually means the world to me to have such unimaginable assist from you all. None of this progress would have been attainable with out you.”
Try rehearsal footage of Peluso in Present Boat and see the UM tribute beneath.
For those who or somebody you understand wants psychological well being assist, textual content “STRENGTH” to the Disaster Textual content Line at 741-741 to be related to an authorized disaster counselor.
