Acclaimed actor Andre Braugher, renowned for his memorable performances in shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life on the Street, passed away at the age of 61 on Monday.
Braugher, whose portrayal of the uppity Captain Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine earned him widespread acclaim and fanfare. His stoic yet deeply humane characterisation of a police captain who was openly gay and Black endeared him to fans in America.
The two-time Emmy winner also left an indelible mark on the television landscape with his role as Detective Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street, which earned him a lead actor Emmy in 1998. Braugher’s intensity and talent were further recognised with another Emmy for his role in the FX series Thief.
Throughout his illustrious career, Braugher navigated complex roles, confronting the intricate legacy of portraying law enforcement officers. In a 2020 Variety cover story, he highlighted the need for a collective examination of the portrayal of law enforcement in media, stating, “Cops breaking the law to quote, ‘defend the law,’ is a real terrible slippery slope. It has given license to the breaking of law everywhere, justified it and excused it,” he expressed. “That’s something that we’re going to have to collectively address—all cop shows.”
Born in Chicago and a graduate of Stanford University and Juilliard School, Braugher’s career encompassed a variety of roles. Survived by his wife, Ami Brabson, and three children, Andre Braugher’s legacy extends beyond the screen.
Despite expressing that his career could have been more expansive, he remained steadfast in prioritising his family over pursuing larger roles “It’s been an interesting career, but I think it could have been larger,” he told Variety. “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.”
Braugher’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-stars Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, and Joe Lo Truglio were some of the people who shared their heartfelt tributes on social media.