Darren Criss has announced the death of his beloved brother in a heartbreaking post.
The actor took to Instagram on Wednesday to share that his older brother, Charles ‘Chuck’ Criss, sadly took his own life last month at age 36.
The Glee star wrote: “It breaks my heart beyond measure to say that my beloved brother Charles has left us.”
“Obviously this is a colossal shock. His loss leaves behind a debilitating fracture in the lives of his mother, his brother, his three small children, and their respective mothers.”
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The 35-year-old continued: “I have spent what feels like a small eternity trying to wrap my head around it, something I suspect I’ll be attempting to do for the rest of my life.”
“But in the short time that I’ve had to process everything, I’ve managed to put some words together that may help with some of the questions you have.”
Darren explained that, for the last several years, his brother had “struggled to find stability during an unfortunate rough patch” in his life.
“Despite our very vocal concerns about his well-being, and his protestations that everything was fine, it’s crushing to say now that Chuck clearly had had a severe depression welling up in him for some time,” he shared.
“A depression that was only outmatched by his all-too-incredible ability to conceal it. Not just from the world at large, but most tragically, from the people who were closest to him.”
“We will never know just how long he was fighting this war within himself. But last week, it consumed him fully, and he succumbed by taking his own life,” Darren wrote.
The actor encouraged others who are struggling to reach out, writing: “Seeking professional counseling and support is a wonderful way to help you see just how abundantly love is available to you.
“There is simply too much love readily available in this world to lose sight of that.”
He continued: “While it was a lapse in Chuck’s mental wellness that took him, it is simply not something that can define who he was. All of the wonderful, inspiring, positive things about his life far outshine the circumstances by which it came to an end.”
“He was a good man with a good heart who contributed enormous amounts of laughter, music, and joy to the world.”
“And for the ones who were lucky enough to take part in those wonderful moments, it’s marvelous to know that those memories are plentiful, everlasting, and can never be taken away.”
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