Andre Braugher, of ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Fame, Has Died at the Age of 61

Andre Braugher, an esteemed Emmy Award-winning actor who brought Captain Raymond Holt to life in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, has passed away. Across the internet, many of Braugher’s admirers and co-stars are in shock at the sudden loss of the actor.

Braugher was 61 years old and, according to Deadline, died after suffering from a brief illness. The Chicago born actor had an illustrious career, spanning the television series Homicide: Life on the Street, Thief, and Men of a Certain Age, as well as films like Duets, City of Angels, and many more. More recently, fans became enamored with Braugher’s portrayal as the Captain of the 99th precinct in the hit comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and he appeared in multiple episodes of The Good Fight.

His portrayal of Raymond Holt showed so many of us how Braugher’s comedic timing worked to his advantage as an actor, and for the show’s eight seasons, we fell in love with Raymond Holt and his husband Kevin (Marc Evan Jackson) because of how much heart Braugher brought to the role. It was the kind of performance that truly highlighted his brilliance.

Braugher is also known for his work on the series Homicide, a show that ran from 1992 to 1998, where he met his wife Ami Brabson. The actor leaves behind Brabson and their sons Michael, Isaiah, and John Wesley. The outpouring of love that has overtaken social media with the news of Braugher’s passing is a testament to the love that he put into his work and how much many of us truly did love to see him appear on our screens time and time again.

Several of my favorite moments in movies and television are tied to Braugher and his talent, and our hearts go out to Brabson and the Braugher family at this difficult time. As Marc Evan Jackson so wonderfully put it, “O Captain. My Captain.” I will miss you dearly, Andre Braugher and the brilliance and power you consistently brought to your performances.

(featured image: NBC)