Prolific poet and actor, Craig Grant dies at 52

LAByrinth Theater Company, of which he was a member, released a statement announcing his passing. No cause of death was revealed yet.

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

On the acclaimed Oz, which ran from 1997 to 2003, Grant portrayed Arnold “Poet” Jackson, a heroin addict and prisoner who recites poetry for other inmates.

Grant worked with a number of filmmakers such as Spike Lee, appearing in the director’s films BlacKkKlansman and Bamboozled. He also played Cash Jackson in the recent Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It. His big screen credits include Steven Soderbergh’s Side Effects, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman, and the Safdie brothers’ Good Time.

On television, Grant appeared in series like Chappelle’s Show, The Sopranos, Boston Legal, The Knick, Horace and Pete, and Luke Cage.

At the time of his death, Grant was shooting a recurring role on Starz’s Hightown and was set to wrap a recurring arc on Tyler Perry’s BET+ show All the Queen’s Men.