Television actor Andre Braugher, known for his roles in the police shows Homicide: Life On The Street and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, has died. He was 61.
The beloved actor passed away after a battle with lung cancer.
Braugher initially won fame as detective Frank Pembleton in the 1990s police drama Homicide: Life On The Street, winning an Emmy for the role.
The show was based on a book by David Simon, creator of The Wire.
"Andre Braugher. God. I've worked with a lot of wonderful actors. I'll never work with one better," Simon wrote on X. "Stunned and thinking of Ami and his sons and so many memories of this good man that are now a blessing. But too damn soon."
Later in his career, Braugher embraced comedy on the police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021), where he won viewers' hearts as Police Captain Raymond Holt.
“I just felt as though it was an opportunity to do something strikingly different from the rest of my career,” Braugher told the AP in 2019.
“I like it because it just simply opens up my mind and forces me to think in a different way. So I think I’ve become much more sort of supple as an actor, and more open to the incredible number of possibilities of how to play a scene.”
Braugher's castmates from Brooklyn Nine-Nine paid tribute to the late actor.
"Will miss your dulcet tones. Forever lucky to have gone on such a journey with you. Ringside seat. You were so funny to me and the epitome of still waters run deep," Chelsea Peretti, who played Gina Linetti on the show, wrote on Instagram.
Terry Crews, who played Terry Jeffords, wrote, "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."
Marc Evan Jackson, who played Braugher's onscreen partner Kevin, wrote, "O Captain, My Captain."
Born in Chicago, Braugher studied acting at Stanford University and Juilliard.
His first major role was as a Union soldier in the movie Glory, which tells the story of a black regiment in the Civil War. He won a second Emmy for his performance in the miniseries Thief.
He is survived by his wife, Homicide co-star Ami Brabson, and three sons.
