A member of the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit team has died due to the global pandemic. Josh Wallwork, the show's costumer, was 45-years-old at the time of his death, which resulted from complications of the coronavirus. SVU stars Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, and others took to social media to pay tribute to Wallwork.
The news of Josh Wallwork's death began to spread after family friend Abdul Qadir posted about his passing on Facebook (via THR). Law & Order: SVU showrunner Warren Leight took the tragic news to Twitter on March 26. Along with a screenshot of the Facebook post confirming Wallwork's passing, Leight said this:
Although production on Law & Order: SVU has shut down for Season 21 and won't resume until whenever Season 22 picks up, Warren Leight spoke for the SVU cast and crew in sending love and prayers to the family and friends of Josh Wallwork.
Still, members of the cast took to Twitter to share their own messages of love and sadness for Josh Wallwork, proving that the costumer impacted those around him in positive ways. Mariska Hargitay, the only SVU cast member who has starred on the show from the very beginning, had her own thoughts:
Heartbroken we are. I don’t think I ever saw him without a smile on his face. He brought love and kindness everywhere he went. Always ready with the joke. The SVU Corredor will never be the same. We will miss you Josh. #ForeverInOurHearts
Mariska Hargitay, who of course has played Olivia Benson for more than 20 years now, isn't the only longtime star who had sentiments to share following Josh Wallwork's death due to coronavirus. In his own message, Ice-T (a.k.a. SVU's Fin Tutuola) honored Wallwork and commented on current events with the spreading of the pandemic.
Responding to Warren Leight's original tweet, Ice-T shared:
I worked with Josh every day… MAN! Pay attention people. #SVU
Yet another member of the Law & Order: SVU had something to say about Josh Wallwork in the aftermath of his death, and he shared that his passing is "so damn sad."
Here's how Peter Scanavino, who plays ADA Sonny Carisi on SVU, expressed his feelings:
Members of the Law & Order: SVU team weren't the only ones to speak up and pay tribute to Josh Wallwork following his death from coronavirus complications. He worked on many TV shows over the years of his career, including Madam Secretary and Bull on CBS.
Actors from both of those shows took to Twitter with their own messages regarding Josh Wallwork's death. Téa Leoni, leading lady of Madam Secretary, posting this:
MadamSecretary lost one of our loveliest, funniest, and kindest; Rest in peace, Josh Wallwork, my thoughts are with his family and friends. #COVID19 #Coronavirus
Christopher Jackson, who stars alongside Michael Weatherly on Bull, echoed the sentiments of those others who hit social media to express their feelings regarding Josh Wallwork's death.
Praising Josh Wallwork's "heart," Christopher Jackson posted this message:
Sadly, Josh Wallwork is only the latest of many people in the television industry to pass away from coronavirus complications. Earlier this week, Top Chef Masters winner Floyd Cardoz died at 59, shortly followed by Mark Blum of Netflix's You and Desperately Seeking Susan at 69-years-old, among others. A number of TV stars have been diagnosed as well, including Lost and Hawaii Five-0 alum Daniel Dae Kim and former Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju, who had been working on Netflix's The Witcher.
Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend are with Josh Wallwork's friends, family, and loved ones in this difficult time.
