Rising 13-year-old Broadway star Laurel Griggs dies suddenly after massive asthma attack: 'The world lost a real princess'
Broadway star Laurel Griggs has passed away after suffering a massive asthma attack, her family has confirmed. She was just 13-years-old. The teen had battled with asthma for the last two years, according to CNN, and died after an asthma attack on Tuesday, November 5, that saw her go into cardiac arrest.
Taking to Facebook to confirm the tragic news, her grandfather David Rivin wrote, "The world lost a real princess who only wanted to make the future happy for all. Acting was a just a childhood dream come true and she had big plans for the future."
While she had featured in films and on television, the teen had primarily acted in Broadway theatre, making her first appearance at the age of just six as the character Polly in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.'
Her career had since been on an upward trajectory. She went on to play the character of Ivanka in Tony-award winning musical 'Once' for a record-setting 17-month stint between 2013 and 2015. In all, her Broadway career is reported to have encompassed over a thousand performances.
Paying tribute to the 13-year-old, the production of 'Once' wrote, "This beautiful young lady was part of our Once family. Please keep her family in your prayers."
Actor Lucas Papaelias similarly said, "My @oncemusical family tragically lost one of our youngest members this past week. we are all heartbroken & devastated. sending love and my deepest condolences to the family of Laurel Griggs, who played the role of Ivanka on Broadway. we will never forget this sweet, talented young soul."
Eliza Holland Madore, who followed Griggs in the role of Ivanka, posted on Instagram that she was "deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of my Ivanka sisters."
"Laurel- you were always smiling and always made other people laugh," she reminisced. "I'm so incredibly grateful that I got to know you. You will never be forgotten and we will never stop loving you."
Griggs had also made two appearances in 'Saturday Night Live' sketches and had a small part role in Woody Allen's 2016 romantic comedy-drama film 'Café Society' that earned positive reviews and grossed over $43 million at the box office.
Her father Andrew Griggs said more than 1,000 attended the November 8 funeral of the young girl, who was described as a "brilliant young lady whose impact in the lives of everyone she met went far beyond her immense talent."