‘Mama Mia!’ And the ‘Wicked’ star died at 40

stage

by Samantha Abraham

August 19, 2023 | 10:01 a.m

Broadway actor Chris Peluso has passed away at the age of 40.

The stage star — best known for his roles in “Mamma Mia” and “Wicked” — passed away abruptly on Aug. 15.

The sad news was confirmed by his family playbill. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Peluso is survived by his wife, Jessica Gomez, and their two children, Aria Lee and Cayo Lien.

His alma mater, the University of Michigan, shared an emotional tribute to the artist earlier this week.

“The Michigan Musical Theater family is saddened as we announce the passing of a dear family member/alum, the loving, charismatic and divinely gifted Chris Peluso,” said Linda Goodrich, interim chair of the school’s musical theater program. Coined on Instagram. “Our hearts go out to his family.”

Peluso has several theater acting credits to his name, including Broadway productions of The Assassins, Lestat, The Glorious Ones, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

However, his biggest role was as Sky in Mamma Mia! and Fiyero in “Wicked.

Peluso has also traveled across the pond to London’s West End, appearing in plays such as ‘Funny Girl’, ‘Show Boat’, ‘Miss Saigon’ and ‘The Woman in White’.

The artist’s death came months after it was announced that he had schizoaffective disorder.

The disease is classified as a “mental health disorder that is defined as a combination of symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as depression or mania,” according to Mayo Clinic.

In September 2022, GoFundMe page created To Peluso who asked fans to donate towards his mental health treatment.

The publication stated that his diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder “has led to Chris developing debilitating paranoia, which has prevented him from performing in recent years.”

Donations were paused after two months and over $25,000 had been raised in that time. Peluso indicated on the page that his treatment was over and he was doing better.

He wrote, “I am able to hold down a job again and have even started recording some auditions.” “It will be a lifelong process from going to therapy and working with the doctors, but I am so much better than I was before treatment.”

He continued, “It really means that I have such incredible support from all of you. None of this progress would have been possible without you.”