Fans of Superstore—the beloved NBC workplace sitcom set in the fictional Cloud 9—received heartbreaking news on August 7, 2025. Jon Miyahara, best known as the mostly silent but scene-stealing Brett Kobashigawa, passed away at the age of 83. His former co-star, Colton Dunn, shared the news on Instagram:
“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.”
Miyahara lived those last moments surrounded by family, according to statements from his loved ones. He leaves behind a legacy defined not by what he said, but by the warmth, wit, and weight his presence carried.
Crafting Character from Silence
Six Seasons, One Memorable Face
Born Jonathan Yasushi Miyahara on August 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, he brought depth to a role that had no ambition for grand gestures. As Brett Kobashigawa, he appeared in 105 out of 113 episodes of Superstore from 2015–2021—a near-constant quiet through the chaos of Cloud 9.
Despite rarely delivering lines—his most famous being a stunned “Oh, shit” during the tornado episode—his deadpan expression became a beloved fixture, often described by viewers as “a reliable shoulder of comedy.”
An Unexpected Touch of Humanity
In one of Superstore’s most iconic moments—the funnel cloud approaching the store—Brett’s lone line echoed a blend of fear and humanity. That quiet moment neither gilded nor overshadowed other characters; it became emblematic of the show’s uniquely grounded humor.
Colton Dunn captured this best:
“He could speak volumes with just a look… He was such a memorable part of the Cloud 9 team.”
Beyond Cloud 9: Brief Cameo and Artistic Roots
Although Miyahara’s most significant work was Superstore, he had one more cameo as Brett in NBC’s American Auto (2023), reaffirming his role’s lasting resonance in comedic television.
From what is public, this acting role remains his only major television credit—yet that singular character allowed him to leave an indelible mark in TV comedy as a rare example of memorable silence.
Reflections from Cloud 9
Colleagues and fans have flooded social media and comment sections with heartfelt tributes:
- Kelly Stables, his co-star, said: “Oh man! He was always so sweet! Rest in peace.”
- Irene White recalled him as “an incredible man.”
- Michael Bunin added: “Many fun days and many fun conversations. Very nice guy.”
Sierra Teller Ornelas, a writer-producer on Superstore, remarked, “He was literally the sweetest man… Prayers up to his family and loved ones.”
Fans reciprocated on Reddit, comparing Brett to relatable quiet veterans of their own workplaces—those who stayed still but knew their craft best.
A Life Quietly Well Lived
Jonathan Yasushi Miyahara lived to 83. He was of Japanese-American descent and hailed from Los Angeles—details that surface in documentation but are otherwise sparse.
While his biography beyond Superstore remains largely out of public view, one can imagine a life rich in subtlety, observation, and artistry, qualities that Brad Pitt-like scene-stealers often possess: quiet yet unforgettable.
What Brett Means to Us
It’s not often that a television character with nearly no lines becomes the emotional quiet center of a show—and yet Brett did just that:
- He represented the underappreciated elder employee whose heart beats strongest despite the echoes around him.
- He grounded the chaos of Superstore with calm reliability.
- He bridged the absurd and the everyday, making Cloud 9 feel like the world we know.
The show even dedicated an episode to memorializing Brett when the characters thought he was gone—only for him to return as though nothing ever happened. That is classic TV charm—and Miyahara delivered it with subtle precision.
Final Curtain, Lasting Silence
Jon Miyahara’s passing is a reminder that presence—not lines—is what often endures. He offered a critical lesson: power doesn’t need volume. His legacy isn’t measured in dialogue but in emotion invoked through mere presence.
As the world remembers him, it won’t be for loud moments but quiet ones: the blink, the look, the pause. These were his signature, and they spoke volumes.
