Darren Criss shared the sad news on Wednesday that his older brother Charles Criss had died by suicide last week at age 36.
The 35-year-old actor revealed the somber news on Instagram in a post featuring several photos of Charles — whom he referred to as Chuck — from happier times.
In a lengthy note included in his post, the stage and screen star noted his brother had been dealing with a ‘severe depression welling up in him for some time.’
Saying goodbye: Darren Criss shared the sad news on Wednesday that his older brother Charles Criss had died by suicide last week at age 36
‘It break my heart beyond measure to say that my beloved brother Charles has left us,’ Darren began his note.
‘He called his brother’s death a ‘colossal shock’ and noted that he left behind ‘a debilitating fracture in the lives of his mother, his brother, his three small children, and their respective mothers.’
The actor added that he had been trying to wrap his head around the tragedy, which he suspected he would be ‘attempting to do for the rest of my life.’
He said it put him at ‘peace’ to share details with others about his brother’s life and what led to his death.
Bad days: In a lengthy note included in his post, the stage and screen star noted his brother had been dealing with a ‘severe depression welling up in him for some time’; Charles (L) seen with Darren in 2018 in LA
Opening up: ‘It break my heart beyond measure to say that my beloved brother Charles has left us,’ Darren began his note
Darren wrote that Chuck was easy to like and a ‘total goofball,’ and even though he often seemed like a quiet introvert, he could surprise people with ‘the most wickedly funny lines that could cut a room in half with his equally impressive timing.’
He wrote that his brother was his friend as soon as he emerged from the ‘womb,’ and that they formed an ‘inseparable, dynamic duo.’
‘We shared nearly everything and looked out for each other,’ he continued.
The Glee actor noted that music was the passion that brought the brothers together.
‘As an artist, he posses a raw, inimitable talent that never ceased to amaze me,’ he added, praising Chuck’s ‘distinctive voice and songwriting skill,’ which he ‘greatly admired for its singularity and sincerity.’
Darren also noted how much his brother loved his family, including his ‘longterm romantic partner’ and his children, including his ‘youngest from his partner, as well as his two older children from his former marriage.’
‘His world revolved around them, and he loved being their father,’ he continued. ‘He shared with them his own joy, good humor, and song, and they adored him for it.’
Family: Darren also noted how much his brother loved his family, including his ‘longterm romantic partner’ and his children
Music lover: The theater star wrote of his brother’s love of music and shared a photo of him on stage with a banjo
Honesty: Darren noted that he had to ‘meditate’ on how much information to share about Charles’ suicide, though he decided that ‘vagueness can lead to confusion, and provoke ideas far worse than the truth’
Darren noted that he had to ‘meditate’ on how much information to share about Charles’ suicide, though he decided that ‘vagueness can lead to confusion, and provoke ideas far worse than the truth.’
While speaking of his brother, he said that a person’s life was more complicated than the image they create in public, so no one would ever fully understand what Charles went through leading up to his death.
He admitted that the ‘last several years were increasingly difficult for Chuck as he struggled to find stability during an unfortunate rough patch in his life.’
READ RELATED: How I boxed away the break-up blues: Now AMANDA PLATELL never misses a chance to pack a punch
‘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,’ Darren wrote.
‘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.’
The American Crime Story star added that their were simple ways to frame his brother’s suicide, but he wanted to avoid ‘reductive’ explanations that couldn’t convey the breadth of his life and struggles.
Struggles: ‘It’s crushing to say now that Chuck clearly had a severe depression welling up in him for some time…’ Darren admitted in his letter
Loved ones: Among the photos Darren shared were several of Charles with his children and his romantic partner
‘I would encourage anyone struggling to land on a simple answer to realize that serious matters of mental health do not yield simple, convenient answers,’ he continued.
‘It requires a much more complex consideration of where one’s mind has to have been to go through with something like this. Because whatever affliction Chuck had, he must’ve had it really, really bad. A state that I can’t even imagine. A place where, even for a person who was as universally adored as he was, the darkness had to have been that strong, powerful enough to block out the magnitude of light coming in from the outside.’
Darren wrote that his brother’s ‘deep-seated internal misalignment’ grew over time after not being treated.
He wrote that Chuck’s condition ‘somehow blocked him from trying to help himself, despite our encouragement. This illness worsened, and he fell,’ but he added that there was ‘no sense, nay, compassion or decency, to try to find blame in any other direction other than the inner most tragedy of an untreated illness.’
Realizing that news of Charles’ death could be devastating to some readers, Darren reminded his followers that there was ‘absolutely no shame in feeling shame, and furthermore, nothing wrong whatsoever with seeking help.’
‘Allowing oneself to be vulnerable and open about any weakness is in fact an admirable display of strength, and the best first step anyone can take on the road to recovery.’
Fighting a disease: He added that there was ‘no sense, nay, compassion or decency, to try to find blame in any other direction other than the inner most tragedy of an untreated illness’
A life to admire: Darren concluded his note by reminding people that his brother’s death couldn’t define the breadth of his life. ‘All of the wonderful, inspiring, positive things about his life far outshine the circumstances by which it came to an end,’ he wrote
Darren concluded his note by reminding people that his brother’s death couldn’t define the breadth of his life.
‘All of the wonderful, inspiring, positive things about his life far outshine the circumstances by which it came to an end,’ he wrote. ‘Chuck Criss was vibrant, special, worldly, hilarious, insightful, gifted, intelligent, celebrated and adored. 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.’
The actor added a short postscript to his letter in which he apologized to Charles’ friends whom he hadn’t shared the news with personally before making his post.
‘I hope they understand that I simply did not have the wherewithal to repeat what needed to be shared to numerous people individually over and over again. So I had to put this together instead,’ he wrote, though he said the experience was ‘cathartic.’
‘If you knew my brother, I hope it can provide some comfort to you as well,’ he wrote.
Among the photos Darren shared were several of Charles with his children and his romantic partner. The brothers grinned ear-to-ear in one image while posing with their mother Cerina and their father Charles, who died in 2020.
If you or someone you know is exhibiting warning signs of suicide, seek help from a professional and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).
Emotional toll: The actor added a short postscript to his letter in which he apologized to Charles’ friends whom he hadn’t shared the news with personally before making his post
Source: Daily Mail
