Darren Criss shared in a Wednesday (March 2, 2022) statement on Instagram that his brother, Freelance Whales musician Charles โChuckโ Criss died in February.
โIt 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,โ he began in his lengthy statement. โI have spent what already feels like a small eternity trying to wrap my head around it, something I suspect Iโll be attempting to do for the rest of my life.โ
โI loved my brother so much, and I know he loved me,โ he continued. โโCharles & Darrenโ were an inseparable, dynamic duo. We shared nearly everything and looked out for each other.โ
According to the post, which also included photos of Darren and his brother in happier times, Charles had suffered with severe depression for many years before dying by suicide. After reflecting on his brotherโs best traits, his gift for music and the love he shared with friends and family, Darren reminded readers that the scope of his brotherโs life can never be limited to the way he died.
โThere are hundreds of one-line solutions one could apply here: perhaps this was a way to finally feel control over a life he felt he had lost control of, maybe this was the only way in which he could find peace,โ the former Glee star wrote. โBut I feel that leaving the matter there would be reductive of the much larger examination required of this tragedy.โ
โAll of the wonderful, inspiring, positive things about his life far outshine the circumstances by which it came to an end,โ he continued. โChuck Criss was vibrant, special, worldly, hilarious, insightful, gifted, intelligent, celebrated and adored.โ
The Hollywood actor also took a moment to encourage people struggling with mental health issues to reach out for the help they need. โSeeking professional counseling and support is a wonderful way to help you see just how abundantly love is available to you,โ he wrote. โIt is an infinite resource. One you deserve not only to receive from others, but to receive from yourself as well.โ
In addition to being a loving father to three children โ โHis world revolved around them,โ Darren wrote โ Chuck was a musician who performed in groups with and without his brother. A founding member of indie group Freelance Whales, he and Darren started off making garage rock music in high school before forming the duo Computer Games. Billboard spoke to the brothers about growing up and making music together when the group launched in 2017.
Read Darren Crissโ full statement about his brotherโs death below
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).