BREAKING NEWS 30 Rock star John Lutz announces sudden death of younger brother
Lutz, 52, who is best known for playing J. D. Lutz on the NBC sitcom, said he was 'heartbroken' over his brother's 'sudden' passing on Thursday, leaving behind a wife and four young children.
Joel, who was believed to be around 50, worked as the Executive Director of mosaiXmultiply, an organization helping to plant hundreds of multi-cultural churches around the world.
Lutz wrote: 'My younger brother Joel passed away suddenly this past Thursday. My family and I are heartbroken.
'He was a funny, compassionate, and loving person. There are so many other things that I want to say about him, but right now I am too devastated to continue typing. I love you Joel.
He shared another post linking to a GoFundMe for Joel's family - wife Jenni, twins Ellery and Rhea, 15, Zoe, 13 and Josiah, 10.
The fundraiser has generated more than $60,000.
A tribute on Joel's company website confirmed he died from 'natural causes' and read: 'Joel was more than our leader - he was a loving husband & father, a visionary, a mentor, a friend, and a faithful follower of Jesus.
'Joel inspired everybody who worked in mosaiXmultiply with his vision and ability to motivate. With his ability to bring leaders in various countries into the mXm community and mobilize them with a vision for movement.
'He created a solid foundation for mXm's purpose of globally training and mobilizing common people to plant gospel communities where they live that are missional, multicultural and multiplying. His unwavering dedication to the mission and his deep love for people have left a lasting mark on all of us.
'We take comfort in knowing that Joel is now with our Savior praising Him with brothers and sisters from every culture.
'Please keep his family, friends, and the entire mosaiXmultiply community in your prayers as we navigate this season of sorrow and remembrance.'
Per his company bio, Joel and his wife Jenni joined a startup team for a 'Christ-centered community' in Frankfurt, Germany.
Joel also served as a pastoral advisor in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
John Lutz joined 30 Rock in its fourth season in 2009, playing a lazy, overweight writer who is often insulted or made fun of by the rest of the staff.
He was also a writer on Saturday Night Live for seven seasons.
In 2014, he joined the writing staff of the NBC late-night talk show Late Night with Seth Meyers
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
27 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The Osbournes changed reality TV forever for better or worse
First and foremost, if Ozzy Osbourne is destined to be remembered for anything, it'll be his music. Few people can genuinely claim to have invented a whole new genre of something. But Osbourne, along with the other members of Black Sabbath, did exactly that. However, Ozzy Osbourne isn't destined to be remembered for just one thing. Because, for three short years two decades ago, for better or worse (and this is genuinely debatable) Ozzy Osbourne also changed television forever. That's right, it would be rude to remember Ozzy Osbourne without at least acknowledging that he is the man who gave us The Osbournes. Twenty-three years on from its debut, the premise of The Osbournes almost seems quaint. Ozzy and his family invited an MTV camera crew into his home to document the ups and downs of their day to day lives. It's a format that has long since been worn into the dust, thanks to the endless parade of thirsty nobodies who have attempted to replicate the formula for their own gain. But at the time, if you were there, you'll remember that The Osbournes was like a grenade going off. Looking back, MTV must not have been able to believe its luck that one of the world's most recognisable rockstars was willing to subject himself to the indignities of a reality show. Indeed, since recent years saw Osbourne distance himself from the series, on the basis that he was 'stoned during the entire filming', perhaps that gives some indication of his state of mind at the time of commissioning. But thank goodness he did, because The Osbournes might qualify as the closest thing that television has ever given us to a live-action Simpsons. Episodes walked a fine line between ridiculous celebrity excess (showing Ozzy on tour) and a kind of aggressively caffeinated escalation of domestic life. An argument with noisy neighbours culminates in the family lobbing ham over the garden fence. A family friend comes to stay and annoys everyone so much that they try to urinate in his drink. Everyone gets worried when the daughter gets a new boyfriend nicknamed 'cauliflower dick'. The Osbourne family couldn't be less like yours, and yet everyone could see parts of themselves in them. Of course, it helped that every member of the Osbournes was genuinely hilarious. Sharon was a fierce matriarch without a filter. Daughter Kelly was a sassy brat. Son Jack was a legitimate weirdo. And Ozzy possessed an uncanny knack for knowingly undermining his own legacy. Look at the episode where he checks out a technical rehearsal for a concert, notices a bubble blower onstage and laments: 'Come on Sharon, I'm the prince of fucking darkness.' This wit saw The Osbournes become a near-instant sensation. When it launched, it became MTV's most-watched show of all time. It won an Emmy. What's more, every single non-Ozzy member of the family (at least the ones who agreed to appear onscreen) was vaulted to fame. Kelly became a popstar, Jack a presenter and Sharon a talkshow host and reality judge. And yet Ozzy remained the centre of gravity throughout. Constantly trying his best to navigate the world, and constantly on the point of drowning, he was in many ways the most relatable member of the family. For someone who once bit the head off a bat, that's a pretty huge achievement. You don't need to be told the cultural impact of The Osbournes, because we're surrounded by it. Paris Hilton tried to mimic the formula with The Simple Life. Katie Price had a reality show. Gene Simmons had a reality show. Ice-T had a reality show. Steps had a reality show. The Kardashians became global celebrities by ripping off the Osbourne blueprint. Most recently, Jacob Rees-Mogg attempted to stage his own Osbournes-style reality show. And it was rubbish. They were all rubbish, because they all lacked the one thing that made The Osbournes special: the Osbournes. So when the dust settles, and all the tributes start to fall away, Ozzy Osbourne will leave behind an almost unparalleled legacy of music. But he also left behind a TV show where he got so angry on a beach that he started screaming personal insults at the sea, and that's OK too.
The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
Victoria Beckham sends olive branch to son Brooklyn as Sir Elton John intervenes to fix family feud
VICTORIA Beckham has sent an olive branch to son Brooklyn amid the family's bitter feud. The rift between Brooklyn, his American actress wife Nicola Peltz, 30, and the Beckhams has seemingly widened over the past few months. 5 But matriarch Victoria, 51, has liked Brooklyn's latest Instagram reel showing him rustling up pasta in the kitchen, suggesting tensions could be thawing. In the video, budding chef Brooklyn, 26, rustles up tomato pasta on a yacht, using a pan of seawater to cook his spaghetti. It follows an intervention from Sir Elton John, who is Brooklyn's godfather and also close pals with David, 50, and Victoria. The legendary singer, 78, has publicly praised Brooklyn and Nicola on social media while the feud has been making headlines, and he has even hung out with them in Cannes. The couple were seen with Elton's husband, David Furnish, at the La Guerite, with other guests including music producer Andrew Watt who worked with Elton on his latest album. We revealed Elton 'briefly' touched on the family feud before sticking to more neutral territory. 'Elton is the showbiz equivalent of Switzerland,' said a source. 'He's utterly neutral in this row. 'Elton of old may have relished in taking sides - in this case his young godson, Brooklyn - but two years off his 80th birthday, he's a man who has seen and done it all. 'He just wants everyone to be happy. There is no side-taking as such; he simply adores his godson, and really has a laugh with Nicola who he thinks has a great sense of humour. "He wants to look after them in his role as 'spiritual adviser' as a godfather, it's a role he takes seriously. 'Elton and David think the situation is terribly sad, and has gently suggested to all involved that life is short — and to patch things up. 'They had a really fun long lunch in the South of France, where Elton and David have a beautiful villa, and besides a very brief chat on the subject that dare rear its name, they discussed loads of other, much more lighthearted matters. "Elton has said his bit - he is adamant he doesn't want to stick his nose in and p*** off either party. He just wants peace.' Perhaps Victoria is making moves to smooth relations ahead of the October release of her Netflix documentary. It is understood she will not touch on the feud - although she has promised there will be 'tears' in the four-parter. Nicola and Brooklyn will not be in it — but that is because no scenes were filmed with them. A source added: 'The children hardly feature — it's simply not a case of Brooklyn and Nicola being cut, as they weren't in it to start with. 5 5 5 "This is very much a project focusing on Victoria's transaction from pop star to businesswoman and designer.' Younger Beckham boys Cruz and Romeo were recently accused of turning their backs on Brooklyn for good, sending the family deeper into crisis. It came after fans spotted the siblings had blocked their elder brother on social media. A source said: 'Blocking or unfollowing someone on Instagram is like the Gen Z version of World War Three. It's a sad new low. 'But the truth is, Brooklyn has cut out his parents David and Victoria from his life and it's the same with Romeo and Cruz. "Even when the family have reached out to Brooklyn they have been ignored. 'He's not had contact for months and it feels clear to them that he doesn't want to make amends.' The feud, which The Sun understands started over money, has been bubbling for several months. The Beckham Family Feud April 2022: Brooklyn marries Nicola Peltz. Wedding Dress Controversy: Rumours begin circulating that there's tension between Nicola and Victoria Beckham after Nicola chooses not to wear a Victoria Beckham -designed wedding gown. Nicola later clarifies in August 2022 (and again in March 2023) that Victoria's atelier couldn't make the dress in time, but reports in May 2025 suggest Victoria actually changed her mind about making the dress. Post-Wedding (2022 onwards): Minimal interaction between Nicola and Victoria on social media, and noticeable absence of Nicola at key Beckham family events. Alleged Wedding "Hijack": In May 2025, a source claimed Victoria "ruined" part of the wedding by allegedly hijacking a dance with Marc Anthony, which was meant for Brooklyn and Nicola. Nicola reportedly ran from the room crying. March 2025: A resurfaced TikTok of Romeo and Cruz mimicking a "baby voice" (which fans associate with Nicola) sparks speculation of sibling shade. April 2025: Brooklyn and Nicola are reportedly absent from Victoria Beckham's 51st birthday celebrations in Miami and her Paris Fashion Week show. May 2025: David Beckham's 50th Birthday Snub: Brooklyn and Nicola are notably absent from David Beckham's 50th birthday celebrations in London, despite being invited. Reports suggest their absence was due to Brooklyn not wanting to be in the same room as Kim Turnbull, the girlfriend of Romeo who had previously been reported to have been dating Brooklyn, who David allegedly opted to have at the party over Nicola. Rumours emerge of a falling out between Brooklyn and his younger brother Romeo, reportedly due to Romeo's new girlfriend, DJ Kim Turnbull, who allegedly had a past connection with Brooklyn. Reports surface that the Beckham parents are "hurt and disappointed" that Brooklyn is "playing no part in family life." Sources claim that tensions between Brooklyn and Nicola and his parents are "definitely not beyond repair." June 2025: Brooklyn and Nicola reportedly enlist a "crisis team" similar to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for "reputation management" due to the growing media scrutiny. Cruz Beckham posts cryptic lyrics on Instagram that some interpret as a swipe at Brooklyn. July 2025: Reports indicate David and Victoria are "desperate" to reconcile with Brooklyn. Brooklyn publicly wishes his sister Harper a happy 14th birthday on Instagram, tagging Nicola, which is seen as a potential "olive branch" and a rare public message to his family amid the rumored rift. Brooklyn UNFOLLOWS his brothers Romeo and Cruz just 24 hours after his birthday message to Harper. Nicola quickly follows suit and also ditches the Beckham bros from her Instagram following. Romeo and Cruz are now also no longer following Brooklyn.
The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
British rock legend, 63, reveals wife, 38, is pregnant with their first baby together in romantic bump snap
BRITISH rock legend Roland Orzabal has revealed his wife Emily Rath Orzabal is pregnant with their first baby together. Tears for Fears musician Roland, 63, and photographer Emily, 38, announced the news with a romantic Instagram post showing off her baby bump, simply captioned with a red heart emoji. 5 5 Posed against a rocky wall, she wore a brown-and-white striped dress and gazed down adoringly at her stomach. The couple privately tied the knot in 2020, saying 'I do' on top of Aspen Mountain in Colorado after the pandemic forced them to cancel their original wedding plans. Reflecting on the moment, Emily shared: 'We had to postpone our original wedding date in September 2020 because of Covid. 'I felt as all corona brides have been feeling: angry, sad, gypped, and confused as to when we should have a wedding. 'Roland and I were in the States for work. We desperately wanted to get married, even just legally, and so to honour our original date, we secretly eloped, just the two of us, atop a mountain in Aspen. It was the most magical moment of my life. 'It breaks my heart that my family could not be there to see it, but no one wanted to risk their safety. 'Two weddings was never my dream, but we adapted, separating the legal wedding from the celebratory wedding to come.' She went on to say: 'In September we were able to use the autumnal flowers we'd originally wanted, and next year we can have all of the spring flowers! 'We got married at 11,212 ft high on Aspen Mountain, whereas next year will be inside an incredible venue. 'I wore a stunning Amanda Wakeley dress, which flowed in the wind so beautifully, and next year I will be wearing Phillipa Lepley. Tears For Fears - Mad World music video 'I still don't feel as though I've had a wedding, because it was just the two of us, and it was a secret. We have yet to have a first dance or a honeymoon! 'But, six months into marriage, I am so happy, and cannot wait to marry Roland again next year, with all of our favourite people around us. We've been planning that one for a very very long time, so it should be extraordinary!' The following year, the pair celebrated with a bigger wedding surrounded by loved ones at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Roland already has two sons, Pascal and Raoul, from his previous marriage to Caroline, who sadly died in 2017 at the age of 54 following a battle with alcoholism-related dementia and cirrhosis. After Caroline's death, Roland told The Irish Times his world 'sort of fell apart in 2018,' and he later sought help in rehab. Those personal struggles went on to inspire the band's 2022 album The Tipping Point. Last October, Tears for Fears released a track titled Emily Said, prompting Emily to write on Instagram: 'It's a good day for Emilys around the world because @tearsforfearsmusic just released a song about us.' Roland remains one half of Tears for Fears, alongside bandmate Curt Smith. The iconic duo are best known for hits like Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head Over Heels. 5 5 5
