The entertainment industry is mourning the passing of actor Andre Braugher, who was best known for playing Detective Frank Pembleton on the NBC drama Homicide: Life on the Street and Captain Raymond Holt in the cherished comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
The veteran actor’s publicist confirmed that he passed away on Monday at the age of 61 from an illness.
The youngest of four children, Andre was born in Chicago in 1962, and his love of theater served as his springboard to fame. He received a Stanford scholarship to study theater, and he later refined his skills at the Juilliard School of Drama.
Glory (1989), in which Braugher played a Union soldier in one of the first African-American battalions of the American Civil War, marked his feature film debut – three Oscars were won by the movie.
Andre Braugher’s moxie was the driving force behind his success, especially in the 1993–1999 television series Homicide: Life on the Street. His performance as Detective Pembleton won him an Emmy. But it was Braugher’s deadpan portrayal of Captain Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine that cemented his reputation with viewers.
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Working with Andy Samberg for eight seasons, he won two Critics Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. As the straight-talking, black, gay precinct leader Holt, Braugher received four Emmy nominations.
Terry Crews, his Brooklyn Nine-Nine costar, posted a moving tribute in his honor.
“It’s hard to believe you’re gone already. It is a privilege to have known you, laughed with you, collaborated with you, and spent eight amazing years witnessing your priceless talent. It hurts to do this. You were gone from us too soon. I learned so much from you. I will always be appreciative that I got to know you. I appreciate all of your knowledge, counsel, friendliness, and kindness. My sincere sympathies are with your wife and family during this trying time. You demonstrated to me what an excellent life looks like. Peace be with you, André.”
Michael, Isaiah, and John Wesley are Braugher’s three sons. Ami Brabson, who co-starred with him in Homicide: Life on the Street, also survives him.