It’s been 20 years since 30 Rock landed on the box.
The beloved comedy series follows the chaotic behind-the-scenes production of a fictional live sketch-comedy show at NBC studios in New York City.
Created by Saturday Night Live standout Tina Fey, it garnered a total of 90 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won a total of 16, including three consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series trophies.
While some of its stars went on to have a hot streak after the show wrapped up in 2013, some cast members had trouble booking projects that were just as good.
On May 23, it was announced that Grizz Chapman died on Friday at age 52 after ‘struggling to stay alive’.
Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the varied fates of the Noughties cast.
It’s been 20 years since 30 Rock landed on the box. The beloved comedy series follows the chaotic behind-the-scenes production of a fictional live sketch-comedy show at NBC studios in New York City (L-R Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer)
30 Rock star Grizz Chapman died on Friday at age 52, and now more details have emerged about his health; pictured in 2014
Grizz Chapman
Grizz Chapman was beloved by fans of 30 Rock for his recurring role as a character also called Grizz.
He was the childhood friend and later the assistant of Tracy Morgan’s character Tracy Jordan, who was a heightened parody of the comedian.
The character Grizz has a sordid past with Tina Fey’s character Liz Lemon, and the occasional liaison with her in the present.
While 30 Rock was Grizz’s first professional acting gig, he went on to appear in films including The Cobbler, Money Monster, Blue Bloods and The Blacklist.
Sadly, Grizz died at age 52 after he had been ‘struggling to stay alive’ before his death, according to Chapman’s manager Renee Glicke, per TMZ.
Renee told the outlet that the actor needed a new kidney transplant but had difficulty finding a donor due to his seven-foot-tall frame. He’d previously received a kidney transplant in July 2010.
His manager also noted that he’d been dealing with various medical issues leading up to his death.
Grizz’s cousin wrote via social media on Friday that he died in his sleep after years of ‘fighting illness’ and undergoing ‘dialysis.’
The star is survived by his wife, Diana Chapman, and their two children.
Tina Fey
Tina is widely considered one of the greatest comedians of her generation
Tina is widely considered one of the greatest comedians of her generation.
The Saturday Night Live alum created the show and starred as Liz Lemon, the head writer of the fictional sketch show TGS.
She went on to win two Golden Globe Awards for the NBC series. Both of her wins were in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy.
While she was well known before the show, she has gone on to cement herself as a cultural figure and has amassed an impressive $75 million net worth.
Opening up about her financial situation in 2025, she told WMagazine: ‘No, I’m not terrible, I don’t waste money, but I don’t get excited about money.’
She added that having ‘enough money to live’ was all she needed.
Since 30 Rock finished, Fey has been involved in quite a few other noteworthy projects.
The Emmy winner created and wrote the Netflix original series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, served as show-runner of Mr. Mayor, and appeared in multiple seasons of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
In 2023, she went on tour with her friend and frequent collaborator Amy Poehler and reprised her role as Ms. Norbury in the 2024 musical Mean Girls.
Alec Baldwin
After the show ended, Alec Baldwin continued acting with projects including 2014’s Still Alice and 2017’s The Boss Baby, as well as its 2021 sequel
Alec Baldwin starred as Jack Donaghy, the NBC executive who goes from being Liz Lemon’s boss to friend throughout the course of the series.
He had a notable acting career before joining the cast of 30 Rock, even garnering an Oscar nomination in 2004.
After the show ended, he continued acting with projects including 2014’s Still Alice and 2017’s The Boss Baby, as well as its 2021 sequel.
In 2021, Alec was involved in an accident while on the set of the film Rust.
He was in possession of a loaded firearm for a scene in the film, and fatally shot the film’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Alec was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were later dropped in 2024.
In the wake of the tragedy, Alec spent much more time at home with his wife Hilaria and their seven children.
Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the actor told how he plans on making his break from acting more permanent in the future.
He said: ‘For me, because of the situation in New Mexico, that was very painful. I wound up staying home a lot. I was home with my kids for three and a half years.’
‘I hardly worked at all. And that’s just changing now, I’m going to go off and do a bunch of things, but I was home and I got used to it, and I don’t want to leave my house anymore. I don’t.
‘I don’t want to work anymore. I don’t. I really don’t. I want to retire and stay home with my kids.’
Tracy Morgan
After the show, Tracy Morgan had roles in a slate of projects, like 2018’s The Last O.G. and 2023’s The Santa Clauses
Tracy Morgan played Tracy Jordan, an erratic actor who joins the cast of TGS to boost its ratings and rehabilitate his damaged image.
He quickly became one of the most beloved from the show, and he’s been one of the most celebrated since it ended.
After the show, the Emmy nominee had roles in a slate of projects, like 2018’s The Last O.G. and 2023’s The Santa Clauses.
Most recently, he stars in the TV show The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, as a disgraced former football player.
Away from his career, Tracy has faced health battles over the years.
In 1996, the actor was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, specifically Type 2 diabetes.
He told TIME in 2009: ‘I feel fortunate to have the disease but not have it affect me.’
‘My first season on 30 Rock, I wasn’t taking the disease seriously. Then one day I got really sick.
‘The doctor was like, ‘Hey, listen, we may have to take your foot.’ That was it for me.
‘Now I take my insulin every day. My blood sugar doesn’t get over 120.’
In 2010, Tracy underwent kidney surgery and was forced to take some time off the beloved NBC sitcom.
Then in 2014, he was involved in a six-vehicle collision while in the midst of his stand-up comedy tour.
It resulted in him being airlifted to a hospital with several broken ribs, a broken femur, a broken nose and traumatic brain injury, requiring immediate surgery.
Most recently, Tracy ignited concern after throwing up at a New York Knicks game in March 2025.
He took to social media soon after to clarify what was really going on with a photo from the hospital.
‘Thank you for all your concern! I’m doing ok now and doctors say it was food poisoning. Appreciate my MSG family for taking such good care of me and I need to shout out the crew that had to clean that up. Appreciate you,’ he penned.
Jane Krakowski
After the show, Jane Krakowski returned to the stage when she appeared in 2016’s She Loves Me, earning a nomination for her third Tony Award for her work in the production.
Jane Krakowski played Jenna Maroney, the star of TGS and best friend of Liz whose main goal in life was to be famous.
After the show, she returned to the stage when she appeared in 2016’s She Loves Me, earning a nomination for her third Tony Award for her work in the production.
She also had roles in 2019’s Dickinson and 2021’s Schmigadoon!
Most recently, she portrayed the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the historical farce Oh, Mary!, written and originated by Cole Escola.
Jack McBrayer
Since the show ended, Jack McBrayer has amassed more credits on his resume than even some of his most notable co-stars.
Jack McBrayer played Kenneth Parcell, the NBC page who loves television and is seemingly the only person on the TGS team with a moral compass.
Since the show ended, the actor has amassed more credits on his resume than even some of his most notable co-stars.
Many of these credits have come from McBrayer’s prolific voice-acting career.
He can be heard on projects like 2015’s The Adventures of Puss in Boots, 2018’s Ralph Breaks the Internet, and 2020’s New Looney Toons.
Scott Adsit
Some of Scott Adsit’s biggest projects after the sitcom include 2015’s Harvey Beaks and 2018’s Wolverine.
Scott Adsit is best known to fans as Pete Hornberger, a producer of TGS and a friend to Liz.
The actor already had a flourishing acting career before his stint on 30 Rock, and he’s been just as busy since the show ended.
Some of his biggest projects after the sitcom include 2015’s Harvey Beaks and 2018’s Wolverine.
Scott also lent his voice to 2018’s American Dad! and 2022’s Inside Job.
Keith Powell
In 2018, Keith Powell began his television directing career with the season three episode Amnesty of the NBC television series Superstore.
Keith Powell was cast as James Toofer Spurlock, a writer for TGS, on 30 Rock.
After 30 Rock, he found plenty of work, including 2014’s About a Boy and 2020’s Connecting.
In 2018, he began his television directing career with the season three episode Amnesty of the NBC television series Superstore.
He has since directed episodes of Dickinson, Single Drunk Female, Interview with the Vampire, and So Help Me Todd.
Kevin Brown
After the show, Kevin worked on films like 2015’s Coach of the Year, 2018’s Ocean’s 8, and 2023’s Love Magick
Kevin Dotcom Brown played Walter Slattery on 30 Rock.
The actor had been in the entertainment industry for years before he was cast in the NBC sitcom, with credits including Cracking Up, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and Get Rich or Die Tryin.
After the show, Kevin worked on films like 2015’s Coach of the Year, 2018’s Ocean’s 8, and 2023’s Love Magick.
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