Publicist: Emmy winner Andre Braugher died of lung cancer
Emmy-winning actor Andre Braugher's death this week at age 61 was due to lung cancer, his publicist said today.
Braugher, best known for his work on "Homicide: Life on the Street'' and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine,'' died Monday. In announcing his death, his publicist Jennifer Allen said he died after a brief illness. Allen confirmed to various outlets Thursday that he had died from lung cancer, with which he had only recently been diagnosed.
A Chicago native, Braugher made his film debut portraying a Civil War soldier in a Black regiment in the 1989 film "Glory." Although he appeared in a series of other big-screen movies, including 'City of Angels," ``Primal Fear'' and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,'' he became a fixture on the small screen with his role as Detective Frank Pembleton in ``Homicide: Life on the Street,'' which ran from 1993-99 on NBC.
The role earned him two Emmy Award nominations as lead actor in a drama series, and he won in 1998. He was nominated for 11 Emmys in his career, including for his lead role in the 2000-01 ABC medical drama "Gideon's Crossing.'' His only other Emmy win was in 2006 for lead actor in a miniseries
or movie for "Thief.''
Despite his dramatic acting chops, he won over a new audience with his role as New York police Capt. Raymond Holt in the Andy Samberg comedy ``Brooklyn Nine-Nine,'' which ran on Fox from 2013-18 and NBC from 2019-21.
His work on the show earned him four Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.
Braugher began his television career as Telly Savalas' sidekick in made-for-television movies based on the original ``Kojak'' series.
His other television credits include "Men of a Certain Age,'' ``Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,'' "Hack,'' "Last Resort,'' and ``The Good Fight."
Braugher appeared on stage at the New York Shakespeare Festival in "Measure for Measure,'' "Twelfth Night,'' in the title role of "Henry V," which earned him an Obie Award and "As You Like It."
At Joseph Papp's Public Theater, Braugher performed in "The Way of the World,'' and Shakespeare's ``Richard II'' and ``Coriolanus.'' He played Iago in the Folger Shakespeare Festival production of ``Othello'' and performed the title role in ``Macbeth'' for the Philadelphia Drama Guild.
Most recently Braugher co-starred in ``She Said,'' the film retelling of two journalists whose reporting led to the prosecution of producer Harvey Weinstein and sparked the #MeToo movement. Braugher portrayed Dean Baquet, The New York Times executive editor who oversaw reporters Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan).
"You left us too soon,'' Braugher's ``Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' co-star Terry Crews wrote on social media. ``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.''
Co-star Chelsea Peretti added, ``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.''
Braugher is survived by his wife, actress Ami Brabson, three children, a brother and his mother.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Classical Theatre of Harlem whose board Braugher served on.
