Following a brief illness, Andre Braugher, who was well-known for his roles in Homicide: Life on the Street and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, passed away at the age of 61.
Throughout his career, Braugher expertly played comedic and dramatic police officers, winning two Emmy Awards from a total of eleven nominations. Terry Crews, the Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-star, honored Braugher’s “irreplaceable talent” on Instagram by thanking him for his friendship, guidance, kindness, and wisdom over their eight years of working together.
Chicago-born Braugher attended The Juilliard School for Drama after earning a degree from Stanford University.
Remembering the legacy of Andre Braugher
He played a soldier in a black Union regiment during the American Civil War, and he became well-known for his breakthrough performance in the 1989 movie Glory. His role as Detective Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1998, helped him maintain his success on television.
Throughout his career, Braugher has played a variety of roles. Most recently, he starred as Dean Baquet in the biographical drama She Said, where he was the executive editor of the New York Times and oversaw the work of investigative journalists Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan.
Andre Braugher left a lasting impression on the entertainment industry with his remarkable talent and contributions to film and television.
Notable figures lauded Andre Braugher’s remarkable talent
Among Andre Braugher’s notable film credits are the roles he played with Richard Gere in Primal Fear, Angelina Jolie in Salt, Meg Ryan, and Nicolas Cage in City of Angels. Though he starred alongside Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, and Melissa Fumero as New York police officers in the fictional 99th Precinct of Brooklyn, he is best known for his portrayal of Captain Ray Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Homicide: Life on the Street creator David Simon said he was extremely saddened by Braugher’s premature passing. Braugher is the best actor Simon, who also created The Wire, has ever worked with. Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor Marc Evan Jackson, who portrayed Braugher’s husband on screen, posted a heartfelt photo of the two cuddling on set with the remark, “O Captain.” My Captain.
Detective Charles Boyle’s Joe Lo Truglio brought attention to Braugher’s untapped vocal ability by pointing out that he frequently performed bass-heavy songs from his dressing room. Chelsea Peretti, who played Gina Linetti on the show, thanked Braugher for the journey they took together, and sitcom director Ryan Case reminisced about the contagious joy Braugher had during the pilot, calling him a “giddy school child.”
Co-stars Dirk Blocker, best known for playing Alfred Hitchcock, and other notable figures lauded Braugher’s remarkable talent, kindness, and intelligence.
Blocker described the years he worked with Braugher as a true blessing and expressed his devastation at his passing. The opinions expressed by Braugher’s coworkers demonstrate the profound influence he had both on and off the set, both as an actor and as a cherished person.
Honoring Andre Braugher
In honoring Andre Braugher, the television network NBC described him as “the actor that others in the profession would always aspire to be.” Viola Davis, who worked with Braugher on a live production of Good Times, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram. You left far too soon. I had a great time working with you every minute.”
In a recent interview with BBC News, Homicide writer and producer Tom Fontana praised Braugher’s charisma, on-screen persona, and distinct energy. Braugher’s unique rhythms especially impressed Fontana, who noted that he had never seen an actor like him on television.
With roles including Benjamin O. Davis in Tuskegee Airmen, Dr. Ben Gideon in Gideon’s Crossing (for which he received a Golden Globe nomination), and Owen in Men of a Certain Age, Andre Braugher has an impressive resume. All of these performances have resulted in nominations for the Emmy Awards. Men of a Certain Age co-creator Mike Royce tweeted his disbelief, calling Braugher the “best actor in the world” and an “incredible human being.”
The Hollywood Reporter claims that Braugher was chosen to play the male lead in The Residence, a murder mystery supported by Netflix that takes place in the White House.
According to his publicist, Jennifer Allen, Braugher passed away on Monday following a brief illness, as reported by the PA news agency. His three sons and his spouse, the actress Ami Brabson, whom he met on the set of Homicide, survive him.
