The Tony award-nominated Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who starred in hit musicals including Waitress, A Bronx Tale and Bullets Over Broadway, has died in Los Angeles from severe medical complications after contracting coronavirus. He was 41.
Cordero died on Sunday at Cedars-Sinai hospital after spending more than 90 days in the hospital, according to his wife, Amanda Kloots. “God has another angel in heaven now,” she posted on Instagram. “Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband.”
Cordero entered the emergency room on 30 March and had a succession of health setbacks including mini-strokes, blood clots, sepsis infections, a tracheostomy and a temporary pacemaker implant. He had been on a ventilator and unconscious and had his right leg amputated. A double lung transplant was being explored.
Kloots sent him daily videos of her and their one-year-old son, Elvis, and urged friends and fans to join a daily sing-a-long. She has said it was difficult to tell whether Cordero understood what was happening, but when he was alert he could respond by looking up and down. A GoFundMe page to pay for medical expenses has raised over $600,000.
The industry has paid tribute to Cordero, with many urging people to donate. Cordero was very close to the actor Zach Braff. “I can honestly tell you I have never met a kinder human being,” Braff wrote on Twitter and Instagram. “Don’t believe that covid only claims the elderly and infirm.”
Zach Braff
(@zachbraff)Nick Cordero passed at 11:40am today with his mother and wife by his side. I can honesty tell you I have never met a kinder human being. Don’t believe that Covid only claims the elderly and infirm.
I am so grateful for the time we had. “We’ll catch up some other time.” pic.twitter.com/Oq2a8QsIyH
The musical director and collaborator Michael J Moritz wrote: “I am so incredibly sad to lose such a wonderful friend and musical partner. Amanda will need all the support and love we can offer.”
Michael J Moritz Jr
(@MichaelJMoritz)I am so incredibly sad to lose such a wonderful friend and musical partner, #NickCordero. Please consider donating to their GoFundMe/sharing. Amanda will need all the support and love we can offer. GoFundMe here –https://t.co/4heD86hlO2.https://t.co/usx6Mi3M1L
Jessie Mueller, who starred opposite Cordero in Waitress, posted “heartbroken doesn’t even cover it.”
Jessie Mueller News
(@jessiemnews)heartbroken doesn’t even cover it. sending so much love to amanda, elvis, and their families. he will be missed by so many. truly desisted 💔 https://t.co/7ptkxwLP9m
Cordero played Earl in the Broadway hit Waitress, and the role of Sonny in Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale. He met Kloots while starring in Bullets Over Broadway, a 2014 stage adaptation of Woody Allen’s 1994 film, in which she also performed. Cordero was nominated for a Tony for his role as Cheech. The two married in 2017.
Cordero also appeared in several episodes of Blue Bloods and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and had a role in the 2017 film Going in Style.
He was last onstage in a Kennedy Center presentation of Little Shop of Horrors.
Other Broadway actors who have been infected with coronavirus include Danny Burstein, Tony Shalhoub, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Gavin Creel, Aaron Tveit and Laura Bell Bundy. The Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally died in March due to complications from the virus.