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The Hollywood star Andre Braugher, who was best known for his work playing police officers on television shows like “Homicide: Life On The Street” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” died on Monday at the age of 61.
Braugher’s Life And Career
Braugher’s death was confirmed to Variety by his publicist, who said that he died after a “brief illness.”
Born in Chicago in 1962, Braugher graduated from Stanford University before attending Juilliard School to study drama. He made his big screen debut in the 1989 Denzel Washington movie Glory, with Braugher portraying the Union soldier Thomas Searles, a free Black man who joins the first Black regiment. From there, he went on to play Kojak’s sidekick in the television movie revival of “Kojak.”
Braugher’s big break, however, came when he was cast as Detective Frank Pembleton on NBC’s “Homicide: Life On The Street” in 1993. He starred on the series until 1998, when Braugher won the lead actor Emmy for his work on the gripping police drama series.
“Homicide” showrunner Tom Fontana said in 2014 that the show had originally began “as an ensemble piece. And it became The Andre Braugher Show. All the writers wanted to write for him because he was great and because they wanted to see if they could screw him up, throw him off his game.”
“He could say so much with his eyes,” Fontana added, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “We’d write these incredibly glorious speeches for him, and then you would see him just look at someone, and we’d sometimes go: ‘Drop the monologue. He’s already sold it.’”
Braugher continued acting consistently after leaving “Homicide” in 1998, taking home a second Emmy for his work in the 2006 FX miniseries “Heist.” It wasn’t until 2013, however, that he returned to mainstream television success with another hit police show, this time playing the uptight Captain Raymond Holt on the police procedural comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” from 2013 until 2021.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” introduced Braugher to a whole new generation of fans, and it showed that he was just as capable of being a comedic actor as he had always been in dramas. The show brought Braugher four more Emmy nominations, this time for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, with the most recent nod coming in 2020.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” ended the next year, but Braugher continued acting right up until his death, with IMDB saying he has two projects that are yet be released.
one of the best things watching brooklyn nine nine was looking forward to captain holt’s sassy comebacks and intellectual jokes every episode thank you for that andre braugher may you rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/6w4QX7QXpq
Braugher is survived by his wife Ami Brabson, who played his wife on “Homicide,” and their three sons. A few years before his death, Braugher told reporters that he’d always prioritized time with his family over pursuing bigger roles that could have made him an A-list Hollywood star.
“I’ve got three boys, and I want them to know me as someone other than the guy who takes them to the circus every once in a while,” he said in 2020, according to US Weekly. “I wanted to be there through the course of their life because I know how important fathers are.”
“It’s been an interesting career, but I think it could have been larger,” he added. “I think it could have spanned more disciplines: directing, producing, all these other different things. But it would have been at the expense of my own life.”
Andre Braugher left this earthly realm today at 61. What a terrible loss. His performances in Homicide touched me deeply. I streamed #Homicide before streaming existed. Braugher’s lovely wife Ami Brabson played his wife on the show. I’m thinking of her tonight.#ripandrebraugherpic.twitter.com/BwY1lihkXS
Andre Braugher has tragically passed away at the age of 61, following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Ami Brabson, and his three sons Michael, Isaiah, and John.
He was an incredible talent, starring in films including Glory and She Said, and TV shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Fight, and Homicide: Life on the Street. Furthermore, he was a great friend to many of his co-workers. Following the news of his unexpected passing, plenty of those friends have posted heartfelt tributes on social media. There’s a great many of these heartbroken posts—a sign of just how beloved Braugher was.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Braugher left behind a remarkable body of work, but one of the things he’s most remembered for is his role as the hilariously stoic Captain Raymond Holt on the hit Fox sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
One of the most poignant tributes came from Marc Evan Jackson, who played Braugher’s onscreen husband, Kevin. He posted a picture of himself and Braugher, captioned simply, “O Captain. My Captain.”
Joe Lo Truglio, who played Charles Boyle, wrote a long and touching Instagram post that begins, “So many wonderful stories will be told about Andre but for now, all my love goes to his wife Ami and his three boys, who he loved very much and flew back every weekend from the show to be with.”
Chelsea Peretti, who was Gina Linetti in seasons 1-6 of the show, wrote a touching tribute on Instagram as well. “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,” said Peretti, adding, “Is it weird that I am also grieving for what Captain Holt meant to Gina?”
Terry Jeffords actor Terry Crews wrote a tribute directly to Braugher, which said, “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.”
Ryan Case, a director and editor on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, posted a thread about her favorite memories of Braugher on the set. “I remember riding with him in a van to the table read of the pilot and he was so grateful to be there,” she wrote.
There was also love from everyone’s favorite Brooklyn Nine-Nine comedic duo. Scully actor Joel McKinnon Miller posted “Sending love to Andre’s family and friends and all of us who had the honor of working with him,” while Dirk Blocker, a.k.a. Hitchcock, wrote, “I am devastated. I love him. The 9 years I was able to work with him and to just be in his presence was truly a blessing.”
The Good Fight
Some of Braugher’s co-stars from The Good Fight, where he played Ri’Chard Lane for 10 episodes, also paid tribute to the actor on social media. Carrie Preston called Braugher an “acting giant” whose death is “a true loss to the world of acting and to the world in general.”
What an acting giant Andre Braugher was and what an incredibly generous and joyful presence he had on The Good Fight set… a true loss to the world of acting and to the world in general…my deep sympathies are with his family. https://t.co/xXtuSDumlz
And Audra McDonald wrote on her Instagram account, “I cannot process the news of Andre’s passing. He was the most generous, brilliant, intelligent and hilarious soul. He joined The Good Fight late in our run but from day one it was if he had always been a part of our family.”
Homicide: Life on the Street
Many people first discovered Andre Braugher’s acting talents in the ’90s police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street, where he played Detective Frank Pembleton. He co-starred with Reed Diamond, who supplied a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
Andre was an inspiration as a man, and as an actor. As a first year student at Juilliard, I was plunked into a spear carrying role in his fourth year production of Othello. His performance in the title role was astounding, and I marveled at it every night. Several years later I followed him onto Homicide, and like everyone else, was blown away by his power and talent. But, honestly what I most remember, and have always tried to emulate, was who he was as a father and as a husband. He always seemed to have what was most important in this life figured out. A tremendous loss. My deepest condolences and most heartfelt love to his family.
David Simon, who wrote the book which Homicide: Life on the Street was based on, posted on the social media platform X, “Andre Braugher. God. I’ve worked with a lot of wonderful actors. I’ll never work with one better.”
Andre Braugher. God.
I’ve worked with a lot of wonderful actors. I’ll never work with one better.
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.
EGOT-winning actress Viola Davis, who starred opposite Braugher in Live in Front of a Studio Audience in 2019, wrote on her Instagram account that he “went way too soon” and was a “great man.”
Mike Royce, who co-created the Braugher-starring series Men of a Certain Age, wrote on X, “This is impossible for me to process. He was [the] best actor in the world. An incredible human being. An incomprehensible loss.”
Costume designer and two-time Oscar winner Ruth E. Carter said, “Rest in Power Andre Braugher. A powerful actor. My work with him on this project ‘Thief’ was nothing short of seeing pure talent and integrity at work.”
Although Braugher died at a tragically early age, his memory will live on forever, as evidenced by all these tributes from people whose lives he touched. His family has requested that, “in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Classical Theater of Harlem, where Braugher served on the board,” and you can make a donation via the official website.
For those who are on social media or who love comedy, you have probably heard of Matt Rife. He is a wildly successful comedian on TikTok, where he has amassed more than 18 million followers. On Instagram he has 6 million and his live performances are popular. Currently he is sharing his struggles as being “hot” and a comedian, he says it makes it extra hard. So you wonder with all the pressure of being at “it” boy, does Matt Rife use weed.
From Ohio, Rife first took an interest in comedy at 14 years old when a teacher encouraged him to be in a high talent show. He did the show, and then started performing professionally a year later at just 15. He has been doing well since.
As a comedian, Rife is best known for his self-produced comedy specials: Only Fans (2021), Matthew Steven Rife (2023) and Walking Red Flag (2023), as well as his appearance on Bring the Funny in 2019. He has had guest roles on the sketch comedy and improv game show series Wild ‘n Out, and comedy television series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Fresh Off the Boat.
The question really isn’t does Rife use weed, but how much! He is know for working his weed use in his comedy acts, including consuming on stage. The 28 year old has made a brand out of being handsome, stoned and funny. During one show, a guy from Texas, who may have had al little alcohol, ends up partaking with Rife who during the show. Check it out HERE.
Early on Rife shares about his marijuana life…
Rife gives a light-hearted touch to his cannabis use and helps make it mainstream – it the way Dean Martin made normalized martinis and drinking.
