Craig ‘muMs’ Grant known for starring in HBO’s Oz and a number of Spike Lee projects has died at 52

Craig ‘muMs’ Grant, best known for his starring role in the TV series Oz and regularly collaborating with Spike Lee, passed away on Wednesday at 52.

While the star’s cause of death has yet to be determined, LAByrinth Theater Company, of which he was a member, announced his death.

‘The LAByrinth Theater family is deeply saddened to share the news of the unexpected loss of Craig ‘muMs’ Grant,’ the post read. 

Gone too soon: Craig ‘muMs’ Grant, best known for his starring role in the TV series Oz and regularly collaborating with Spike Lee, passed away on Wednesday at 52; seen in 2013

The group continued: ‘We’ll forever miss our friend, brother, LAB member, Emcee, mentor, poet, actor, spoken-word giant, and fire-breathing teddy bear. muMs’ presence, performances, and words inspired a generation. His legacy will live on, from the Bronx and into the beyond. Keep rocking the mic, Schemer!’ 

At the time of his death, THR reported Grant was ‘shooting a recurring role on the Starz series Hightown in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was set to travel to Atlanta on Monday to wrap a recurring arc on the BET streaming series All the Queen’s Men.’ 

The actor also recently wrapped production on Steven Soderbergh’s crime thriller film No Sudden Move, set to be released in 2022 on HBO Max. 

Unexpected: While the star's cause of death has yet to be determined, LAByrinth Theater Company, of which he was a member, announced his death (seen in 2015)

Unexpected: While the star’s cause of death has yet to be determined, LAByrinth Theater Company, of which he was a member, announced his death (seen in 2015)

Grant’s agency released a statement, saying: ‘We are heartbroken over the loss of one of the most genuine, caring, loving souls we have ever had the pleasure of representing.’

‘Craig was more than our client, he was our dear friend. We all just lost a phenomenal man,’ they added.  

In addition to appearances in series like Chappelle’s Show, The Sopranos and Boston Legal, he was unforgettable as Arnold ‘Poet’ Jackson in Oz, portraying a heroin addict, who recites poetry for his fellow inmates. 

'The LAByrinth Theater family is deeply saddened to share the news of the unexpected loss of Craig 'muMs' Grant,' the post read; pictured in 2017 at the The Paley Center for Media

‘The LAByrinth Theater family is deeply saddened to share the news of the unexpected loss of Craig ‘muMs’ Grant,’ the post read; pictured in 2017 at the The Paley Center for Media

The critically-acclaimed ran from 1997 to 2003. Some of his other big screen credits included Side Effects, Birdman and the Good Time.

Grant was also in talks with the National Black Theatre and The Public to stage this summer, and had his writing described as ‘Shakespearean’ by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The pair were both members of the LAByrinth Theater Company.

Unfinished business: At the time of his death, THR reported Grant was 'shooting a recurring role on the Starz series Hightown in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was set to travel to Atlanta on Monday to wrap a recurring arc on the BET streaming series All the Queen's Men (seen in 2010)

Unfinished business: At the time of his death, THR reported Grant was ‘shooting a recurring role on the Starz series Hightown in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was set to travel to Atlanta on Monday to wrap a recurring arc on the BET streaming series All the Queen’s Men (seen in 2010)

Grant was born in New York City, raised in the Bronx and attended Mount St. Michael Academy High School as a teenager. 

Grant’s loved ones turned to social media to grieve his loss, including actor Kirk Acevedo, who played Miguel Alvarez on Oz.

‘My brother from OZ, I spent too much time with this man onset. Too many amazing stories,’ Acevedo tweeted. ‘This is heartbreaking.’ 

Talented: In addition to appearances in series like Chappelle's Show, The Sopranos and Boston Legal, he was unforgettable in the as Arnold 'Poet' Jackson in Oz, portraying a heroin addict and prisoner who recites poetry for other inmates

Talented: In addition to appearances in series like Chappelle’s Show, The Sopranos and Boston Legal, he was unforgettable in the as Arnold ‘Poet’ Jackson in Oz, portraying a heroin addict and prisoner who recites poetry for other inmates

Additionally, he praised his pal’s poetry and wrote Grant would ‘be missed.’ 

‘One of the first poets I ever saw at the Nuyorican during my first ever summer in New York,’ producer Franklin Leonard wrote on Twitter. ‘This one cuts deep. Damn.’ 

Meanwhile, writer Jorge Rivera tweeted Grant was ‘a friend, a brother, a mentor, a confidant, a cheerleader, a collaborator, and a spirit guide.’

He concluded: ‘There will never be another like him. I’m absolutely gutted.’  

'My brother from OZ, I spent too much time with this man onset. Too many amazing stories,' Acevedo tweeted. 'This is heartbreaking'

‘My brother from OZ, I spent too much time with this man onset. Too many amazing stories,’ Acevedo tweeted. ‘This is heartbreaking’

Devastated: Meanwhile, writer Jorge Rivera tweeted Grant was 'a friend, a brother, a mentor, a confidant, a cheerleader, a collaborator, and a spirit guide'

Devastated: Meanwhile, writer Jorge Rivera tweeted Grant was ‘a friend, a brother, a mentor, a confidant, a cheerleader, a collaborator, and a spirit guide’