Broadway star Nick Cordero has passed away at the age of 41, succumbing to Covid-19 after a harrowing 94 day stay in hospital that saw him have a leg amputation and get placed on a medically induced coma as he suffered a series of health setbacks.
Cordero, who spent more than 90 days in the intensive care unit and suffered from additional complications, like lung infections and septic shock, made his name in Broadway playing “tough guy” roles in productions like 2014 musical Bullets Over Broadway.
His wife, Amanda Kloots, confirmed news of the star’s passing with an Instagram post on Sunday night.
“My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him,” Kloots wrote 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.”
She encouraged everyone to play Cordero’s song “Live Your Life” to help send positive vibes for him into the universe. As he breathed his last on Sunday, she had sung the song to him, she said.
“As I sang the last line to him, ‘they’ll give you hell but don’t you (let) them kill your light not without a fight. Live your life,’ I smiled because he definitely put up a fight,” she wrote.
News of his passing triggered an outpouring of tributes from Broadway and Hollywood stars alike.
Sara Bareilles who wrote the music for Broadway show “Waitress” took to Instagram to write, “He was light. Kind and gentle. Talented and humble. Funny and friendly. The best laugh.”
Actress Viola Davis wrote : “my heart is with you all.”
“Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson used Cordero’s passing as a chance to issue another rallying cry for the continued fight against the deadly virus.
“Incredibly sad news. Can we please do what we need to do as a country to fight this virus together? It doesn’t care how healthy you are. It doesn’t care if you want to go to Fire Island. It doesn’t care if you are tired of wearing a mask. Reign. It. In.” Daily Mast
