Brooklyn Nine-Nine Star Andre Braugher Cause Of Death Disclosed
News broke this week that "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Andre Braugher passed away at the age of 61 on December 11. Now, we know that the late actor's cause of death was lung cancer.
The Hollywood Reporter exclusively broke this news, with previous reports of Braugher's sudden death noting that the star experienced what his representative then called a "brief illness." When it was announced that Braugher had passed away, the entertainment industry was left shocked and saddened. His colleagues on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" released statements in due time honoring their friend and co-star, and other Hollywood figures expressed deep grief at this abrupt loss.
The two-time Emmy Award winner and prolific performer of both stage and screen was known for his deep, lyrical voice, his roles as authority figures, and extraordinary talent. Braugher is survived by his wife Ami Brabson — whom he met while working on "Homicide: Life on the Street" — their three sons Michael, Isaiah, and John Wesley, Braugher's mother Sally Braugher, and his brother Charles Jennings.
Andre Braugher was a massive talent — and he'll be sorely missed by many
After earning acting degrees from Stanford University and The Juilliard School, Andre Braugher made his film debut in 1989 alongside Denzel Washington in the drama "Glory," but it was his role as Detective Frank Pembleton on "Homicide: Life on the Street" that made him a recognizable star.
Modern audiences likely know Braugher best as the trailblazing, deadpan police captain Raymond Holt on the Michael Schur series "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," where his character leads a quirky gang of detectives and officers in the New York City borough. In the pilot, it's revealed that Holt has had a difficult career in the NYPD because he's an openly queer Black man, and after he takes over the 99th precinct, detectives like Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) are quick to bring him into the fold. Whether Holt was awkwardly pretending to be a straight man or flying off the handle mid-interrogation about the differences between dentists and doctors, Braugher made every single line reading on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" sing.
In a 2020 interview, Braugher revealed he was stepping back from acting to spend more time with his family, though he was working on a Shonda Rhimes series at the time of his death. The world's thoughts are with his family, and the star is sorely missed by many.
Andre Braugher was spending more time with his family — but his latest series is now in flux
As his time with the beloved "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" came to a close, Braugher wanted to spend a little more time with his family. While most know that about him, a lot of fans don't know that he recently took on a major part in a buzzy upcoming series — leaving the fate of its release seriously in question.
"The Residence," a murder mystery drama created by legendary showrunner Shonda Rhimes as part of her ongoing deal with Netflix, shut down production during the SAG-AFTRA strike that happened earlier this year. According to a Deadline report, only four episodes were shot before Braugher's passing. Of course, this presents an enormous problem for the production. Not only are they mourning the loss of their colleague, but there's no word on how the series could work without Braugher. The "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" standout was set to star as White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter. He'd star alongside "Orange is the New Black" star Uzo Aduba, who portrays a detective tasked with solving a murder that happens during a state dinner at the White House.
As of this writing, no updates have been provided on how "The Residence" will move forward. Though any replacement for Braugher will undoubtedly be a massive talent, it's also devastating that the world missed out on yet another brilliant turn from Braugher. Maybe the production will find a way to use what was shot of him to honor his memory and work. Fans can hope!