More tragic news from Hollywood as it’s being reported that prolific and esteemed Emmy-winning actor André Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Homicide: Life on the Street) is dead at the far too young age of 61. He died on Monday after a “brief illness” with no other details released.
Update 12/14: It’s been reported that Braugher was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months before he died from the disease.
Braugher has an extensive career on stage and screen after being born and raised in Chicago and then attending Stanford University, where he received his B.A., and Juilliard, where he received his M.F.A. His first film role was in Ed Zwick‘s 1989 Civil war drama Glory, opposite Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington. Washington received one of the three Oscars that film won out of its five Oscar nominations.
Braugher won his first Primetime Emmy in 1998 for his role as Detective Frank Pembleton in Tom Fontana‘s NBC drama Homicide: Life on the Street, a show he starred on from 1992 through 1998. Braugher would win a second Emmy for starring in the mini-series, Thief, in 2006. He would receive two more Emmy nominations for his role on the drama, Men of a Certain Age, in 2010 and 2011, before joining Andy Samberg on the Fox police sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He would receive four more Emmy nominations for playing “Captain Ray Holt” on that popular show.
His film appearances are too numerous to mention all of them, but they include Phillip Noyce‘s Salt (2010) with Angelina Jolie; Frank Darabont‘s The Mist (2007); the 2006 Poseidon; Bruce Paltrow‘s 2000 film, Duets, opposite Gwyneth Paltrow; Spike Lee‘s Get On the Bus (1996); the 2000 thriller Frequency with Dennis Quaid; and many more.
Braugher was also a regular on the New York City stage, appearing in numerous Shakespeare productions at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, and as part of the New York Shakespeare Festival.
Braugher was last seen on the big screen as part of the cast of Maria Schneider‘s She Said and on the final season of the Paramount+ legal drama, The Good Fight, playing lawyer Ri’Chard Lane. Braugher was intended to star in the Netflix series, Residence, as his next project.
Braugher leaves behind his wife, actress Ami Brabson, who he met on Homicide, as well as his Michael, Isaiah and John Wesley, his brother Charles Jennings and his mother Sally Braugher.
Many of Braugher’s friends, colleagues and co-workers stepped forward to pay tribute to the beloved actor, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Terry Crews, who posted a touching tribute on his Instagram, saying: “Can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent. This hurts. You left us too soon. You taught me so much. I will be forever grateful for the experience of knowing you. Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness and your friendship. Deepest condolences to your wife and family in this difficult time. You showed me what a life well lived looks like.
Rest In Peace, Andre. I love you, man. 😢❤️”
