After “95 days,” Broadway star Nick Cordero lost his hard-fought battle against the coronavirus on July 5, 2020, per People. Known for his stage roles in Bullets Over Broadway, A Bronx Tale, and Waitress, Cordero was admitted to the hospital in late March 2020, and suffered one complication after another. While fans and friends of the actor prayed for his recovery, his wife, Amanda Kloots, confirmed Cordero’s passing with an emotional Instagram post in honor of her “sweet man.”
“God has another angel in heaven now,” she wrote. “[Nick] was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth. I am in disbelief and hurting everywhere. My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him. Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk… He loved his family and loved being a father and husband.”
Kloots added that she and son Elvis, who turned one while Cordero was in the hospital, “will miss him in everything [they] do, everyday.” She also mentioned Cordero’s song “Live Your Life,” which became the rallying cry of love and support throughout his battle. “We sang it to him today, holding his hands. 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.”
Nick Cordero's death launched renewed calls for people to wear masks in public
As news of actor Nick Cordero’s death spread throughout the entertainment industry, stars took to social media to express their grief. However, in the midst of their sadness, some celebs also used the moment as an opportunity to address the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and the value of wearing masks in public.
“Please wrap his wife Amanda and son Elvis in your loving prayers. And wear a damn mask. If you don’t care about yourself, care about everyone else,” actress Leslie Uggams tweeted. “Incredibly sad news. Can we please do what we need to do as a country to fight this virus together?” Modern Family‘s Jesse Tyler Ferguson added. “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.”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a photo of Cordero, wife Amanda Kloots, and son Elvis on Instagram, where she emphasized Covid-19’s devastating impact. “For everyone out there thinking this disease is harmless, it’s not,” she wrote. “Nick leaves behind a beautiful wife @amandakloots and the most precious son, who just celebrated his first birthday without his father.
Addressing Kloots, Gellar added, “I wish you understood the inspiration that you have been to so many, and I hope that brings you even the smallest bit of comfort through all this. But none of this is fair.”
Zach Braff feels 'incredibly grateful' to have had Nick Cordero in his life
For Scrubs star Zach Braff, Nick Cordero’s death was personal as they were best friends. The two co-starred in the musical Bullets Over Broadway in 2014. “Nick Cordero passed at 11:40am today with his mother and wife by his side. I can honesty tell you I have never met a kinder human being. Don’t believe that Covid only claims the elderly and infirm,” he wrote on Twitter alongside an image of Cordero and wife Amanda Kloots. “I am so grateful for the time we had.”
On Instagram, Braff added that “Covid doesn’t care about the purity of your soul, or the goodness in your heart.” He continued, “The last thing he ever texted me was to look out for his wife and one year old son, Elvis. I promise the world they will never want for anything. I feel so incredibly grateful I got to have Nick Cordero enter my life.” Even before Cordero’s passing, Braff was living up to the promise as Kloots and Elvis shared his home during Cordero’s hospitalization.
As Braff told The Hollywood Reporter in April 2020, ” … [Nick’s] wife and baby are living in my guest house and thank God they’ve been joined by her amazing brother and sister who are taking care of her and helping her with the baby. And we help them in any way we can, too.” It seems like, Kloots has an amazing support system behind her.
Nick Cordero's former 'Waitress' cast mates are 'devastated' by his death
Having starred in Broadway’s hit musical Waitress in 2016, Nick Cordero clearly left a lasting impression on his former co-stars. “He was light. Kind and gentle. Talented and humble. Funny and friendly. The best laugh,” Sara Bareilles, who wrote the music and lyrics for Waitress, posted on Instagram. “Sending so much love to the love warrior @amandakloots and little Elvis, and an immense hug to any one who is feeling the loss of this giant heart.”
Waitress alum Jenna Ushkowitz tweeted that she “doesn’t understand why we are still having to yell at others to wear a g**damn mask.” Adding, “We are mourning a friend and a light in this world who shouldn’t be lost to this virus and didn’t deserve this. What can you do? WEAR A MASK. HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF.”
Cordero’s former co-star, Kimiko Glenn, noted that the Broadway star was “young, strong and healthy,” urging others to take his story into account when they consider disregarding “mask-wearing and social distancing measures.” She added, “He spent a month and a half in a coma, lost his leg due to clotting, and was too weak to talk for 95 days,” Glenn posted on Instagram. He was the last person I would expect to suffer in such a way.” And while she added that Cordero’s “spirit will live on” in his son, we can’t help but wish Cordero was here to guide Elvis himself.
Our thoughts are with Cordero’s family during this difficult time.
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