Andre Braugher's Life in Photos

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Remembering the life of revered actor Andre Braugher, who starred in 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine', 'City of Angels' and much more

<p>John P. Fleenor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty</p> Andre Braugher on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

John P. Fleenor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Andre Braugher on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Andre Braugher, who found fame playing no-nonsense Capt. Raymond Holt in the comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, died this week at the age of 61.

Fames for starring alongside Denzel Washington in the 1989 movie Glory and working with Telly Savalas on Kojak, Braugher also appeared in City of AngelsSaltLaw & OrderSalem's Lot and the upcoming Netflix series The Residence. He won Obie Awards for his performances in stage productions of Henry V and The Whipping Man and Emmy awards for Homicide in 1998 and the 2006 miniseries Thief.

A Chicago native and Stanford University and Juilliard graduate, Braugher is survived by his wife, Ami Brabson, and children John Wesley Braugher, Michael Braugher and Isaiah Braugher.

Here, remember Braugher's life through some of his most iconic works.

Andre Braugher on 'Kojak'

<p>ABC/courtesy Everett </p> Young Andre Braugher on Kojak

ABC/courtesy Everett

Young Andre Braugher on Kojak

Longtime fans will best remember Andre Braugher for his role as sidekick Det. Winston Blake on the late '80s Kojak TV movies.

"I feel that Kojak really introduced me to the fact that intense and meticulous preparation is essential for playing a role," he said in a 2006 chat with IGN. "Oftentimes, everything that I shot on that show was one take and one take only. That was when I got my first trial by fire, really."

Andre Braugher in 'Glory'

<p>TriStar Pictures/courtesy Everett </p> Andre Braugher in Glory

TriStar Pictures/courtesy Everett

Andre Braugher in Glory

Also in the late '80s, Braugher joined screen stars Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman in the Civil War film Glory.

“It was an incredible honor to be involved in Glory and work amongst a tremendous cast to highlight some of our nation’s first Black military heroes,” he told The Wrap in 2015. “The film pays tribute to the brave soldiers and inspires us to defy adversity when all odds are against us, while paying tribute to those who selflessly fought to preserve the union during the American Civil War.”

Andre Braugher on 'Homicide: Life on the Street'

<p>Robert Gilberg/NBCU Photo Bank </p> Andre Braugher in Homicide: Life on the Street

Robert Gilberg/NBCU Photo Bank

Andre Braugher in Homicide: Life on the Street

Another of Braugher's most memorable roles was that of Det. Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Street, which ran for nine seasons in the '90s on NBC.

"I had never seen an actor like that on television," writer and producer Tom Fontana once told the BBC. "His rhythms were so unique to him."

Andre Braugher Wins an Emmy

<p>Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty</p>

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

In 1998, Braugher won his first Emmy Award for his work on Homicide. He'd eventually rack up 11 nominations and two wins over the course of his career.

"This is for all the people in Baltimore," he said when accepting his award, giving a nod to the series' setting. "This is a town I love. We have finally made it."

Andre Braugher in 'City Of Angels'

<p>Atlas Entertainment/Getty</p>

Atlas Entertainment/Getty

Braugher played angel Cassiel opposite Nicolas Cage in the otherworldly romantic 1998 film, City of Angels.

Andre Braugher on 'Gideon's Crossing'

<p>Challenge Roddie/Touchstone Television/courtesy Everett</p>

Challenge Roddie/Touchstone Television/courtesy Everett

Braugher portrayed the head doctor in a Boston teaching hospital on ABC's Gideon's Crossing from 2000 to 2001. Though the series faced stiff ratings competition and lasted just one season, his work earned him another Emmy nomination plus the first of his two Golden Globe Award nominations.

Andre Braugher in 'Thief'

<p>Prashant Gupta/FX/Courtesy: Everett </p>

Prashant Gupta/FX/Courtesy: Everett

The FX 2006 miniseries Thief didn't last long, but it again drew attention to Braugher's stellar acting skills: the show won him his second Emmy Award and earned him his second Golden Globe Award nomination.

“Some of the best writing is on TV,” Braugher said in a Variety interview following the project's cancelation. “I’m going to be on TV as long as they’re fighting the good fight. I’m attracted to complex characters, and I’ll do it again and again. There’s a lesson to be learned in a show’s failure, but the lesson is not to draw back.”

Andre Braugher on 'House'

<p>Michael Yarish/NBCU Photo Bank</p>

Michael Yarish/NBCU Photo Bank

Braugher popped up on a few episodes of House during the series' early 2000s run, playing Dr. Gregory House's psychiatrist.

Andre Braugher on 'Men of a Certain Age'

<p>Danny Feld/TNT/Courtesy: Everett</p> Andre Braugher in Men of a Certain Age

Danny Feld/TNT/Courtesy: Everett

Andre Braugher in Men of a Certain Age

In 2009, Braugher made a pivot to comedy and joined Ray Romano and Scott Bakula on TNT's Men of a Certain Age, which ran for two seasons.

“For me, the show seemed reflective of real life in that when something happens you don’t get a gag line for a laugh or the character then telling the other characters why he did what he did," Braugher told the Los Angeles Times. "I respond to that kind of showing, not telling, in scripts, where it’s acting, not just talking, that conveys feelings and meanings.”

Andre Braugher in 'Last Resort'

<p>Mario Perez/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty</p>

Mario Perez/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

"Is he a madman or is he that father figure that's going to lead this entire crew back home?" Braugher asked HuffPost about his role as Capt. Marcus Chaplin on the 2012 ABC series about a submarine that's gone rogue. "It's really uncharted territory. Everything that happens is new and unexplored and absolutely fascinating."

Andre Braugher on 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'

<p>FOX Image Collection via Getty </p>

FOX Image Collection via Getty

Today's fans most likely know Braugher from his tenure on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, on which he played the esteemed officer Raymond Holt opposite Andy Samberg and the show's lovably goofy cast of characters.

Of starring in a comedy for the first time, the actor told Variety in 2020, “I remember turning to my wife and asking her, ‘Is this funny?’ And she said, ‘Yes, of course, you’re not being deceived.’ But I kept looking at it, saying to myself, is this good? I couldn’t really judge.”

As the devoted fanbase would say, it was good. “I’ve been surprised by the youth of the audience, and how sharp and how emotionally engaged they are to the storytelling,” Braugher added. “It makes me proud of the work that we’ve done collectively to tell these stories and to elicit these feelings.”

Braugher scored four Emmy nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his work.

Andre Braugher in 'She Said'

<p>Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett </p>

Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett

The actor helped bring the Harvey Weinstein scandal to the big screen as New York Times editor Dean Baquet in 2022's She Said, starring Carey Mulligan.

Andre Braugher on 'The Good Fight'

<p>Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+</p>

Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+

The actor's most recent project was a 10-episode arc on The Good Fight opposite Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald.

"He's a very colorful character," Braugher told Collider of Ri'Chard Lane in 2022. "I just said to myself, 'It’s time to rise to the occasion.' "

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