The Wire actor James Ransone dies by suicide aged 46

American actor James Ransone, best known for playing Ziggy Sobotka in The Wire, has died aged 46.

As ruled by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner, the TV star died in an apparent suicide on Friday.

An investigation was carried out after police were called to his residence, but no foul play is suspected.

Ransone’s death was then confirmed this Sunday publicly by TMZ.

The Baltimore-born actor was married to Jamie McPhee and is survived by two children, as per the New York Post.

Wife McPhee has since added a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to her social media profile.

Ransone got his big career break co-starring in teen drama Ken Park in 2002.

Shortly after, he landed a part in HBO drama series The Wire, undoubtedly his most memorable TV role, which earned him critical acclaim.

In 2003, he appeared in 12 episodes as Baltimore dock worker Ziggy, who was also involved in criminal activity.

His other well-known TV roles were those of Cpl. Josh Ray Person in the 2008 miniseries Generation Kill, and, in 2010, he landed a recurring role in comedy series How to Make It in America.

Ransone’s TV résumé also includes 10 episodes of HBO drama series Treme (2011), in which he played Nick, and Damon Callis in AMC’s Low Winter Sun in 2013.

Additionally, he had appearances in Law & Order, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Third Watch, and, most recently, Poker Face.

Ransone made his movie debut with a supporting role in Spike Lee’s 2006 heist movie Inside Man, playing bank robber Steve-O.

He continued to enjoy a lengthy career on the silver screen, which included playing Eddie Kaspbrak in It Chapter Two (2019), the sequel to Stephen King’s 2017 horror adaptation.

In 2021, he played Max in the supernatural horror flick The Black Phone, a role he would reprise for a cameo appearance in the 2025 sequel, which became his final film role.

With regard to his personal life, Ransone was open about his personal struggles.

In 2021, he wrote on Instagram that he had been sexually abused by his maths tutor growing up in Maryland in 1992.

At the time, he said the abuse led to ‘a lifetime of shame and embarrassment,’ and, by age 27, Ransone had developed an addiction to heroin and $30,000 (£23k) of debt.

He became sober in 2007 and, in March 2020, reported his childhood abuse to the police. However, it is alleged that he was told by prosecutors that no investigation would take place.

Ransone went on to receive high praise following this, as he stepped in to save a woman from being sexually assaulted outside his New York apartment.

Having grabbed a metal bar upon hearing screams, he ran towards the attacker.

‘I did what anybody would have done,’ he said after the confrontation.

‘I pictured my mum, my girlfriend and every girl I’ve ever loved and thought, “Vengeance is mine”.’

Following confirmation of Ransone’s death, fans and friends have paid tribute to his work.

Wendell Pierce apologised for ‘not being there’ for his The Wire and Treme co-star, writing on X: ‘Sorry I couldn’t be there for you, brother. Rest in Peace James Ransone.’

Director Spike Lee shared a photo of them together and wrote on Instagram: ‘Rest In Peace To My Dear Brother, MR. JAMES RANSONE. We Rocked Together On RED HOOK SUMMER And INSIDE MAN.’

Filmmaker Larry Clark shared a photo of the actor in his 2002 movie Ken Park and simply wrote: ‘RIP.’

Mya Taylor paid an emotional tribute to her Tangerine co-star.

She wrote: ‘RIP James Ransone. This hurt me so bad. Such a sweet and funny guy. He helped me deal with fame. He could light up a room with his smile and dimples. So funny and sweet and he will be missed. Love this man so much.’

The movie’s director, Sean Baker, who also worked with James on Starlet, posted: ‘I’ll miss you dearly my friend.’

Madeline McGraw felt ‘profound emptiness’ after being told her Black Phone and Black Phone 2 co-star had passed away.

The 17-year-old actress wrote on her Instagram Story: ‘I’m struggling to put into words the profound emptiness I’m feeling since learning of James Ransone’s passing. My heart is absolutely shattered.

‘At the premiere of the first Black Phone James pulled me and my parents aside and spent nearly 45 minutes talking with us. He was so genuinely supportive and he took the time to share heartfelt advice with my parents about how to guide and protect me in this industry.

‘That night, I spoke to so many people but his conversation is the only one etched in my memory forever. He was such a beautiful soul. Full of passion and so much kindness.

‘When he returned for his cameo in Black Phone 2, he was just as humble and grateful, lighting up with pure excitement to be on the Black Phone set.

‘We got to catch up, laugh and connect again, and he was exactly the same: that radiant, passionate man overflowing with love for me, for his craft and for his family.

‘James, you truly changed me. You inspired me in ways I’ll carry forever. And I promise, with everything in me, to live by the wisdom you shared with me that night at the premiere. I already miss you so deeply. Rest in peace, my friend. You were one of a kind.’

Fan @kaiyashunyata on X declaring him ‘a magnetic force of nature on and off screen’, adding that, by speaking about his own abuse, Ransone ‘fundamentally changed’ how they processed their own trauma.

‘i feel really rattled by the james ransone news in a way i’m not sure i can explain’, wrote @riverindaIe.

‘Rest in peace James Ransone, you were an absolute horror legend and delivered so many great characters’, penned @JEST0Z.

‘I miss him so much already’, added @crinja404.