30 Rock star Grizz Chapman was 'struggling' to survive before his death at age 52

30 Rock star Grizz Chapman died on Friday at age 52, and now more details have emerged about his health.

The comedic actor had been 'struggling to stay alive' before his death, according to Chapman's manager Renee Glicke, per TMZ.

Glicke told the outlet that Chapman needed a new kidney transplant but had difficulty finding a donor due to his seven-foot-tall frame. He'd previously received a kidney transplant in July 2010.

His manager also noted that he'd been dealing with various medical issues leading up to his death.

Chapman's cousin wrote via social media on Friday that he died in his sleep after years of 'fighting illness' and undergoing 'dialysis.' 

The star is survived by his wife, Diana Chapman, and their two children.

Chapman was beloved by fans of 30 Rock for his recurring role as a character also called Grizz.

Grizz was the childhood friend and later the assistant of Tracy Morgan's character Tracy Jordan, who was a heightened parody of the comedian.

The character Grizz has a sordid past with Tina Fey's character Liz Lemon, and the occasional liaison with her in the present.

Born in 1974 in Brooklyn, the real Grizz Chapman was working as a strip club bouncer when he first encountered the real Tracy Morgan.

He went on to appear in 80 episodes of 30 Rock, from the hit NBC sitcom's first season in 2006 to its final season in 2013.

Grizz and a character named Dot Com, played by Kevin Brown, served as Tracy Jordan's idiosyncratic entourage.

Before his 2010 transplant, Chapman had been diagnosed with hypertension, which he ignored, and later discovered he had kidney disease. 

He announced in 2009 that he needed a transplant, noting that he first would have to lose weight and secure a donor.

Chapman also appeared on TV shows, including Blue Bloods and The Blacklist, as well as movies like the 2014 Adam Sandler comedy The Cobbler.

He launched his own sketch show on YouTube called the Grizz Chronicles, and he was featured on the Webby-winning channel We the Internet TV.

As news of his death circulated on Friday, the star was memorialized online by his cousin Donte 'Hammer' Harrison, who plays for the Harlem Globetrotters.

'Life gave my cousin Grizz Chapman some heavy battles, but he fought them with strength and dignity until the very end,' wrote Harrison.

Vaunting his 'good heart' and 'good energy,' Harrison shared that Chapman died 'peacefully in his sleep' following 'years of fighting illness and dialysis.'

Harrison added: 'I’m thankful we got time to reconnect 2 months before his passing. Rest easy, cousin. Your name and legacy will live on forever.'