Andre Braugher, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ and ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Star, Dies at 61

Andre Braugher, the two-time Emmy-winning actor who starred in the hit television series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” died Monday after a brief illness. He was 61.

Braugher’s publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed the news of his death to Variety.

More from Variety

• 'Homicide: Life on the Street' Writer Shares Potential Streaming Update Following Andre Braugher's Death

• Andre Braugher's Cause of Death Revealed as Lung Cancer

• Andre Braugher in The Box: How the 'Homicide' Star Became Frank Pembleton on a Sweltering Saturday

Braugher was known for his role as the upright Captain Raymond Holt on the police procedural comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” from 2013 until 2021. His character’s stoic and no-nonsense personality but deep sense of humanity made him an instant fan favorite of the show, especially when paired with Andy Samberg’s hotshot Det. Jake Peralta in a scene.

He won a lead actor Emmy for his role as Detective Frank Pembleton on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on Street” in 1998, his last year on the series. Braugher’s intense performance made him one of the breakout stars to emerge from the critically beloved police drama that hailed from Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana and David Simon, the former Baltimore Sun reporter who wrote the 1991 nonfiction book, “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.” Braugher also won another Emmy for miniseries or movie for his performance as a master criminal for FX’s 2006 series “Thief.”

READ: Andre Braugher Reexamines His Cop Roles and Urges ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ to Rise to the Moment

Braugher confronted the complicated legacy of playing police officers throughout his career in a 2020 Variety cover story. “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 said. “That’s something that we’re going to have to collectively address — all cop shows.”

Born in Chicago, Braugher graduated from Stanford University, then attended Juilliard School in the drama division.

His first screen role came as a Union solider in “Glory,” in which he played Thomas Searles, a free Black man who joins the first Black regiment. In the TV movie revival of “Kojak,” he played Kojak’s sidekick, then moved on to “Homicide: Life on the Street.”

He also played a Detective in “Hack” from 2002 to 2004, then switched it up as a psychiatrist on “House, M.D.” Braugher was nominated for two Primetime Emmys for supporting actor for “Men of a Certain Age.”

He continued to appear in feature films as his TV career expanded, with roles in “City of Angels,” “Frequency,” “Poseidon,” “Primal Fear,” “Duets,” “The Mist,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” “Salt” and “The Gambler.”

He told Variety his family was more important than pursuing a big lead role. “It’s been an interesting career, but I think it could have been larger,” he says. “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.”

He is survived by his wife Ami Brabson, who also appeared in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and three children.

Best of Variety

• What's Coming to Netflix in January 2024

• New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 

• What's Coming to Disney+ in January 2024

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.