“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” cast mourns Andre Braugher: 'Can't believe you're gone so soon'

Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, and more costars share heartfelt memories of the actor after his death at 61.

The Nine-Nine is mourning one of its own.

The cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine are sharing their fond memories and devastation over the news of the death of their captain, Andre Braugher, who played fan-favorite Captain Raymond Holt on all eight seasons of the police comedy series. Braugher, who was also known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in the police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street and used car salesman Owen Thoreau Jr. in the comedy-drama series Men of a Certain Age, died Monday at the age of 61 after a brief illness, according to his longtime publicist Jennifer Allen.

"Can’t believe you’re gone so soon," Terry Crews, who played yogurt-loving Terry Jeffords on the show, wrote on his Instagram.

"I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent. This hurts," Crews wrote alongside an image of Braugher. "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." He concluded his note with the show's favorite chant, "#nineine," and a note, "Rest In Peace, Andre. I love you, man."

Dirk Blocker, who played one half of the hilariously lazy cop duo Hitchcock and Scully, also made note of Braugher's immense talent. "Fiercely intelligent, remarkably kind, supportive, generous and possessed a deep and extraordinary talent, and had even more to offer," he wrote on his Instagram. "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. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family."

Not to be outdone by Hitchcock, of course, Scully also weighed in. Joel McKinnon Miller, the actor who played him, posted, "An actor prepares… Sending love to Andre’s family and friends and all of us who had the honor of working with him."

Marc Evan Jackson, who starred alongside Braugher as Holt's loving (and equally no-nonsense) husband, Kevin, posted a sweet snapshot of them together on set, writing simply, "O Captain. My Captain."

For his role as Captain Holt, Braugher received four Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor. And though the role was important to his career, costar Joe Lo Truglio — who played hard-working but unfortunately dimwitted Charles Boyle — pointed out that there was a different role Braugher treasured more: that of husband to wife, Ami, and father to three sons.

"He spoke often about his sons, and knew how lucky he was to have Ami. I’m grateful to them for allowing us to share eight years with him," he wrote. "He was committed and passionate about the things he loved. And that voice. It laid anchor to the roughest of dialogue."

Lo Truglio, in true Charles spirit, made sure to include a favorite memory of his departed costar — his penchant for singing on set. "At first, it was odd because well…*it was Andre Braugher crooning at full volume from behind closed doors*…but then very quickly it made all the sense in the world because the man was so full of song and that’s why the world took notice," he wrote, concluding, "I miss him so much already. What an honor to work with a man who knew what it was really all about. I feel blessed and thankful. Miss you Capt Holt."

Chelsea Peretti, who played Holt's narcissistic assistant Gina Linetti until her departure from the sitcom in season 6, shared a photo of the captain holding a painting of himself. "Love you ❤️ Will miss your dulcet tones," she wrote in the caption. "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. I will always cherish our conversations, often with me hanging in your doorway barring your exit, and the insane opportunity to be your sidekick. Is it weird that I am also grieving for what Captain Holt meant to Gina? I really hoped and knew I would see you again. Hate that I won’t 💔"

Melissa Fumero, the show's ambitious do-gooder Amy Santiago, posted behind-the-scenes photos with Braugher on Wednesday, including one of the pair in robes laughing on the beach while filming season 2's "Beach House" episode. "I love this first picture," she wrote. "The moment before that photo is Andre and me sitting on a little wooden deck over looking the ocean in Malibu. We were having our first, of many, deep conversations…. when out of a nowhere a big wave splashes the rocks below us, and we get hit! We get so startled that we jump up and run off the deck…..and then crack up laughing."

"I will remember all the advice you gave me," Fumero continued. "I will remember all the times we laughed because your laugh was one of the all time greatest laughs to have ever existed. I will remember the deep love and loyalty you had for your family. I will remember it every time I ask work to make time for me to be with my family. I will remember how you sent me pictures of Fall trees in NJ because you knew how much I missed that time of year back east. I will remember you calling me Melly Fumé. I will remember so much."

Stephanie Beatriz posted a video of a touching scene she shared with Braugher on the show in which his Capt. Holt comforts her tough-as-nails Rosa Diaz after she comes out as bisexual to her disapproving parents. She captioned it just, "Andre. ❤️"

The crew of the show also weighed in. Christopher Miller, who directed and produced the show's pilot with frequent collaborator Phil Lord, tweeted of the news: "Sad. I got to know Andre a little while doing the Brooklyn Nine-Nine pilot. He was a kind, thoughtful, supremely talented person. The way he and Andy’s opposite approaches to acting baffled & then slowly influenced each other was a magical dynamic that was the heart of the show."

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