O Captain, my Captain – Andre Braugher dies aged 61

Best known for his roles as Captain Raymond Holt and as Detective Frank Pembleton in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life on the Street. Andre Braugher has died on Monday after a brief illness aged 61.

Born in 1962 in Chicago as the youngest of four, Braugher studied theatre on a Standford scholarship before attending the Juilliard School for Drama.

Braugher won two Critics Choice Awards for best supporting actor in a comedy series and received four Emmy nominations for his performance as the deadpan Captain Raymond Holt in the hit comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine who was the precinct’s no-nonsense, Black and gay boss.

His first role came in 1989’s Glory film when he played a Union soldier in one of the American civil war’s earliest African American regiments. He starred with Denzel Washington who won an Oscar for the best supporting actor.

Braugher had a three-decade career, he was nominated for an Emmy a total of 11 times and often starred in roles circling the military and police. In 2020, he spoke to Variety about the complexities of portraying police on television.

“I look up after all these decades of playing these characters, and I say to myself, it’s been so pervasive that I’ve been inside this storytelling, and I, too, have fallen prey to the mythology,” he said.

“Cops breaking the law to quote, ‘defend the law,’ is a real terrible slippery slope. It has given license to the breaking of law everywhere, justified it and excused it. That’s something that we’re going to have to collectively address – all cop shows.”

Braugher is survived by his wife, the actress Ami Brabson who also appeared in Homicide; their three sons Michael, Isaiah and John Wesley; as well as his brother Charles and mother Sally.

Celebrity Responses

Taking to Instagram, Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-star Terry Crews wrote: “I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplacable talent. This hurts.” Adding “You left us too soon. 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. Deepest condolences to your wife and family in this difficult time. You showed me what a life well lived looks like.”

Marc Even Jackson, who played Holt’s husband Kevin, posted a photo of the pair of them on set, writing “O Captain. My Captain.”

Fellow Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Chelsea Peretti also posted on Instagram with memories from the set: “Will miss your dulcet tones. Forever lucky to have gone on such a journey with you. Ringside seat.” Adding “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.”