Actor Jon Miyahara, best known for his role on the sitcom Superstore, has died at the age of 83.
Miyahara’s middle daughter, Pennie Cappasola, confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor died on Wednesday, Aug. 6, with his wife, Chiyo, by his side.
Although the family has not released an official statement, Cappasola told PEOPLE, “He loved working on Superstore.”
Superstore is a comedy TV series that aired from 2015 to 2021. It follows the daily lives of employees working at Cloud 9, a fictional big-box store in St. Louis. The show mixes humor with social commentary, tackling issues like corporate policies, healthcare, immigration, and worker rights. Key characters include the idealistic floor supervisor Amy (played by America Ferrera), the awkward but lovable Jonah (Ben Feldman), and a quirky team of coworkers.
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His death was announced on Thursday by fellow Superstore cast member Colton Dunn in an Instagram post.
Colton wrote, “John Miyahara aka Brett from superstore has sadly passed away. John was a really awesome guy and as a performer could speak volumes with just a look. He was such a memorable part of the Cloud 9 team. It was an honor to know him and work with him. I was lucky enough to meet some of his family and my thoughts are with them. Rest in Peace John. 💙”
The cause of death has not been revealed.
According to the New York Post, Superstore aired on NBC for six seasons, from 2015 to 2021, starring America Ferrera and Ben Feldman. The show followed the lives of employees at the fictional big-box store Cloud 9.
Jon Miyahara appeared in 105 of the show’s 113 episodes, playing Brett, an older employee known for being mostly silent. Despite rarely speaking, Miyahara’s character became a fan favorite, often stealing scenes with his strong work ethic and perfectly timed reactions.
In one memorable storyline from Season 2, a tornado hits the store, and everyone believes Brett has died. The team even holds a memorial for him. During the chaos, Brett utters one of his few lines on the show: “Oh sh-t.” But in a twist, he later turns up alive and returns to work as if nothing happened.
All episodes of Superstore are currently available to stream on Peacock.
