At the age of 61, Andre Braugher, a two-time Emmy-winning actor and father of three, passed away on Monday after a brief illness, as confirmed by his representative to the Hollywood Reporter. He is survived by his wife Ami Brabson and their sons Michael, Isaiah, and John Wesley, according to Deadline.
Raised in the crime-affected West Side of Chicago, Braugher, a Chicago native, reflected on his upbringing in a 2014 New York Times profile. Recalling his early years, he acknowledged the challenging environment, stating, "We lived in a ghetto." Despite facing adversity, Braugher expressed a desire to break free from his circumstances, steering away from trouble. Initially planning to study engineering per his father's wishes, his life took a turn when he stumbled upon a student production of Hamlet. Intrigued, Braugher abandoned his engineering pursuits in favor of a theater career, earning a scholarship to Juilliard after securing his father's support.
Braugher gained recognition for his role in the 1989 film Glory, alongside Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. Throughout his career, he made notable contributions to hit series such as Homicide: Life on the Street (earning an Emmy in 1998), Men of a Certain Age, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, where he starred alongside Andy Samberg.
Reflecting on Braugher's talent, Samberg remarked in 2014, "Andre has such a fluency in the world of cop drama, and that works to his advantage. Applying the polish and dramatics that you would to something very serious to something very silly is a classic move that I always love."
Among his recent credits, Braugher played the role of Dean Baquet in the 2022 film She Said, portraying the New York Times executive editor overseeing journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohy, whose reporting played a pivotal role in Harvey Weinstein's prosecution and ignited the #MeToo movement.
Braugher was set to star in the upcoming Netflix series Residence, with filming scheduled to commence early next year, making it one of his last projects before his passing.
