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Beloved actor Bobby J. Brown has died at the age of 62 after being caught in a devastating barn fire.
The star, best known for playing Officer Bobby Brown on the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, was reportedly overcome by smoke while trying to jump‑start a vehicle inside the barn, TMZ reported on Thursday.
Brown’s daughter told the website her father succumbed to smoke inhalation on Wednesday and that she believes he did not die from the severe burns he suffered in the blaze.
The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death as diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation and ruled the incident an accident, according to TMZ.
According to the family, Brown had called a relative for a fire extinguisher after the blaze ignited, but by the time help arrived the barn was already fully engulfed.
Brown will be remembered not only for The Wire but also for memorable roles on Law & Order: SVU and We Own This City.
Beloved actor Bobby J. Brown has died at the age of 62 after being caught in a devastating barn fire
The star, best known for playing Officer Bobby Brown on the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, was reportedly overcome by smoke while trying to jump‑start a vehicle inside the barn, TMZ reported on Thursday
Brown’s daughter shared with TMZ that he was a devoted Jehovah’s Witness and that arrangements for a funeral service are currently underway.
Fans quickly took to social media to mourn the loss of the beloved actor.
‘Rest in peace, legend. He was such a good actor,’ one fan wrote.
Another added, ‘It’s heartbreaking to hear this news. His work left a lasting mark on television and touched fans across the globe. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone who admired his talent.’
A third posted, ‘So sad. May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort during this difficult time.’
Brown’s passing comes just months after another The Wire actor, James Ransone, died.
The 46-year-old, best known for portraying Ziggy Sobotka, the troubled Baltimore dock worker in the show’s second season, passed away in Los Angeles on December 19.
According to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records, Ransone’s death was ruled a suicide, and he was found in a shed.
Brown’s daughter told the website her father succumbed to smoke inhalation on Wednesday and that she believes he did not die from the severe burns he suffered in the blaze; (pictured with late actor Michael Madsen)
Fans quickly took to social media to mourn the loss of the beloved actor
He is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children.
McPhee has since launched a fundraiser on social media in his memory, benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Ransone made a lasting impression on television audiences as Ziggy Sobotka, appearing in 12 episodes of The Wire’s acclaimed second season.
The series, which aired from 2002 to 2008, is widely regarded as one of the most influential TV dramas of all time, featuring an ensemble cast that included Dominic West, Michael Kenneth Williams, Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Wood Harris, John Doman, Frankie Faison, and Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
Ransone had been candid about his personal struggles in recent years.
In 2021, he revealed he was a survivor of sexual abuse and had previously battled addiction, telling Interview Magazine in 2016 that he achieved sobriety at age 27 after years of heroin use.
Following The Wire, Ransone continued to appear in HBO productions such as Generation Kill and Treme, as well as Amazon’s Bosch.
His last TV role came earlier this year in season two of Poker Face, which aired in June.
On the big screen, Ransone’s career spanned horror, indie, and mainstream films.
His credits include Prom Night (2008), Sinister (2012), Sinister 2 (2015), Tangerine (2015), Mr. Right (2015), It Chapter Two (2019), The Black Phone (2021), and the upcoming Black Phone 2 (2025).
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