Darren Criss's brother Charles dies by suicide, aged 36

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 02 March 2022

Glee star Darren Criss shares the sad news that his older brother has taken his own life.

Glee star Darren Criss has shared the heartbreaking news that his older brother Charles has taken his own life at the age of 36.

The actor posted several pictures of his brother on Instagram alongside a lengthy note revealing his death, which he said had left him with "the heaviest sadness".

"It breaks my heart beyond measure to say that my beloved brother Charles has left us," he wrote. "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."

He continued: "The last several years were increasingly difficult for Chuck as he 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 a severe depression welling up in him for some time.

"A depression that was only worsened by a lifelong struggle he had with expressing his feelings — a dangerous combination 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."