André Braugher is dead. Loss of a versatile TV legend, remembered fondly by 'Brooklyn 9‑9' cast and fans
Of all his roles, Braugher had the longest tenure in the comedic production of "Brooklyn 9-9", depicting the misadventures of police officers from the 99th precinct in New York, for eight years (2013–2021). His career began in the late 80s when he portrayed detective Winston Blake in TV movies from the well-known series "Kojak".
If one were to observe his filmography, it would seem logical to conclude that he had a preference for action films ("Salt"), thrillers ("Primal Fear", "Striking Distance"), and horror. He appeared twice in adaptations of Stephen King's work: "The Mist" and "Salem's Lot". The mainstream audience might also recall him from "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", where he portrayed General Hager.
Master of the series
Braugher had a longstanding affinity with uniforms. Aside from portraying a captain in "Brooklyn 9-9", he also played a detective in "Homicide: Life on the Street". He was quite comfortable in the series format. Beyond the aforementioned titles, viewers might have seen him in "Thief" (for which he received his second Emmy award), "The Perfect Storm", "House M.D." and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", or even heard his voice in "BoJack Horseman".
As it turns out, Braugher's final appearance on the big screen was in Maria Schrader's "I'm Your Man". The upcoming years are set to feature two more premieres involving him: the miniseries "The Residence" and the animation "Scoob!: Holiday Haunt". Deadline suggests that in the first title, another actor may take Braugher's place, or his character might be entirely written out of the script.
Industry peers and fans say goodbye to André Braugher
Social media platforms were swiftly alight with posts paying tribute to the 61-year-old actor. It is no surprise, considering that over his nearly 35-year career, Braugher had collaborated with many individuals. The creators of "Brooklyn 9-9", the show with which he was recently most closely associated, issued an extensive statement, as quoted by Deadline.
"Like everyone who was fortunate enough to know André, we are heartbroken by the news of his passing. He was one of the most talented dramatic actors in history. He then ventured into comedy and instantly became one of the funniest individuals (...). His acting prowess was only outshined by the joy and happiness he brought to those around him.
And his smile... he had the most wonderful, radiant, and awe-inspiring smile. We extend our thoughts and love to his magnificent, wonderful family, whom he adored more than anything. We're grateful for the invaluable time we shared with him" – the creators of the series fondly remembered their friend in touching words.
One Last Ride | Official Trailer | Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Their sentiments were echoed by David Simon, creator of "The Wire" and scriptwriter of "Homicide: Life on The Street". Condolences were also shared online by Terry Crews (Sergeant Terry Jeffords in the series) and Chelsea Peretti (Gina Linetti), both expressing disbelief at his sudden departure and reminiscing about witnessing his immense talent daily.
A compilation of Braugher's best moments, made by fans, surfaced online and was incorporated into a Filmweb article.
The series "Brooklyn 9-9" can be watched on Netflix.
