NEW YORK — Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles as the stern yet caring Captain Raymond Holt on the hit sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and the fierce Detective Frank Pembleton on the critically acclaimed crime drama “Homicide: Life on the Street,” has died. He was 61 years old.
Braugher passed away on Monday following a brief illness, his publicist confirmed to the New York Times.
The actor was instantly recognizable by his commanding baritone voice and masterful ability to convey gravitas and depth with subtle expressions. Over his prolific three-decade career on both the small and silver screens, Braugher created a memorable body of work playing authoritative figures in positions of power, particularly in law enforcement.
Rise to Fame on ‘Homicide’ in 1990s
Braugher first came into prominence in the 1990s starring on NBC’s dark police procedural “Homicide,” which ran for seven seasons between 1993-1999. As the fiercely determined, cocksure Detective Frank Pembleton, Braugher delivered a tour de force performance and became the breakout star of the critically lauded series.
With his knockout portrayal of the brash yet brilliant detective, Braugher won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1998, his final season on the show. The iconic character, whom a 2010 article in The Guardian called “the smartest, sharpest master of the art of interrogation,” remains one of Braugher’s most unforgettable and seminal roles.
Second Emmy for 2006 Miniseries ‘Thief’
After leaving “Homicide” in 1998, Braugher went on to earn his second Emmy eight years later in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie in FX’s “Thief.” Braugher played Nick Atwater, the head of a group of high-stakes thieves plotting a major heist, all while dealing with tumultuous family issues at home.
Transition to Comedy as Captain Holt on ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’
While Braugher was renowned for his dramatic chops, the actor revealed his previously unseen comedic talents when he signed on to star opposite Andy Samberg and Terry Crews on FOX’s Golden Globe-winning sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” in 2013.
As the deadpan, bone-dry Captain Raymond Holt, Braugher hilariously played the foil to the precinct’s goofy, jokester cops. As the openly gay Black commanding officer known for his robotic strictness, Braugher added new depths to what could have been a two-dimensional stereotype. With subtle cracks in his stern veneer and masterfully timed throwaway lines uttered in his trademark monotone, Braugher stole nearly every scene he was in.
Over the show’s eight seasons spanning 153 episodes, Braugher earned four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. He also won two Critics Choice TV Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, further cementing his status as one of television’s most versatile talents.
Colleagues and Co-Stars Pay Tribute
As the news of Braugher’s untimely passing broke, many friends, collaborators and former co-stars took to social media to mourn the beloved actor and pay tribute to his undeniable gifts.
Terry Crews, who starred alongside Braugher for eight memorable seasons on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine, shared a moving post on Instagram honoring his late co-star.
“I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent,” Crews wrote. “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.”
Chelsea Peretti, another one of Braugher’s “Nine-Nine” co-stars, recalled the late actor’s subtle hilarity and depth as a performer in her own tribute.
“Will miss your dulcet tones. Forever lucky to have gone on such a journey with you. Ringside seat,” she wrote on Instagram. “You were so funny to me and the epitome of still waters run deep. I will always cherish our conversations, often with me hanging in your doorway barring your exit, and the insane opportunity to be your sidekick.”
Fellow cast member Marc Evan Jackson, who played Braugher’s on-screen husband Kevin Cozner, shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the two of them in costume with the poignant caption: “O Captain. My Captain.” The reference to the famous Walt Whitman poem was a nod to Braugher’s role as the stern but big-hearted leader of the 99th Precinct.
Prentice Penny, showrunner of HBO’s “Insecure” who previously wrote for “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” tweeted out his own favorite memories working with Braugher on set. He recalled one time when Braugher was warmly chatting with him and Crews until a white colleague walked by, at which point Braugher instantly put on a stern face again.
“He then leaned in and said ‘Gotta keep ‘em on they toes,’” Penny wrote. “Again, I fell out! RIP #andrebraugher.”
Reed Diamond, who co-starred on “Homicide” with Braugher and was also his classmate at Juilliard, stated: “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 … was blown away by his power and talent.”
Ryan Case, editor of the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” pilot episode, tweeted that his biggest challenge was finding takes where Braugher wasn’t smiling since they wanted to save that for the final moment.
“He was like a giddy school child doing his first comedy and it was so wonderful,” Case said. In a follow-up post, he added: “If there weren’t men like Andre in this business I probably would’ve quit it a long time ago. The world is worse without him.”
Even multi-Grammy winner Questlove paid tribute on Instagram, writing that he “would commit to a show on the strength of [Braugher] being a character.”
“One of my fav character actors,” the Roots drummer said.
Braugher is survived by his wife Ami Brabson, an actor who also appeared on “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and their three sons, Michael, Isaiah and John Wesley.
