The Wire star Bobby J. Brown's cause of death revealed four months after horror barn fire

The Wire actor Bobby J. Brown's cause of death has been revealed - four months after he died in a barn fire in Chaptico, Maryland.

The 62-year-old died as a result of diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation, the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed in records reviewed by Us Weekly on Wednesday.

Brown suffered 'fourth-degree burns' in the deadly February 24 incident, with skin 'absent from the left chest, a portion of the left arm and portions of the lower extremities.'

He had 'a few brown hairs on the scalp, but the vast majority were singed off,' authorities noted in the report. 

Results of a toxicology report indicated that Brown 'had been consuming alcoholic beverages prior to death' but tested negative for any drugs in his system.

Carbon monoxide had been detected in 71 percent of the actor's blood. 

In a 911 call obtained by TMZ, dispatchers said that Brown had been trapped in the burning structure, which was 50-feet-by-100-feet, after attempting to jump start a Cadillac. 

Brown's daughter Reina told People that she received the tragic news of her father's death via a phone call at around 11:30 p.m. while she had been sleeping. 

'I had gone to bed about two hours before,' Reina said.

She said that her younger sister had told her that their father had been 'caught up in a barn fire, and I'm like, "What do you mean?"'

Reina spoke about the surreal moments after learning the shock news.

'I literally went outside and put both my feet on my front walk,' she told the outlet. 'It's cold, and I stood out in my bare feet in a nightgown because I wanted to make sure I was really awake.

'I did that to make sure I was in actual reality and not dreaming this up, and then I did it for a grounding exercise. I couldn't believe it. I was like, this isn't real. And I still don't even feel like it's real.'

The grieving daughter, who told the outlet that her late father had tried to get a fire extinguisher amid the blaze, said that she and her relatives were 'still trying to process' the devastating loss.

'It's been difficult for all of us,' she said. 'My dad was an amazing human being. He was super awesome. He was a pillar in the community, and he's going to be missed by a lot of people.'

Albert Bramante, Brown's agent, issued a statement calling Brown 'an actor of immense talent and even greater integrity,' according to People.

'He approached his work with a discipline and a passion that were truly inspiring to witness,' Bramante said. 'While his career included many notable performances, it was his unwavering dedication to the craft of acting that defined him as an artist.

'We are deeply saddened by this loss and ask for privacy for his family and loved ones during this time.'

In addition to his efforts in front of the camera, the Washington, D.C.-born actor also had a background in sports, as he was a five-time Golden Glove boxer. 

Following his career in the ring, Brown enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to build on a career in acting.

Brown's passing comes in the wake of a number of tragic deaths linked to the show over the past five years.

Isiah Whitlock Jr., who portrayed the role of Senator Clay Davis, died December 30, 2025 at the age of 71 in the wake of a brief illness.

That came shortly after the December 17 death of actor James Ransone, who played the role of Chester 'Ziggy' Sobotka, via suicide at 46.

Charley Scalies, who played Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa, died at 84 following a battle with Alzheimer's in May of 2025. 

Actor Lance Reddick, who portrayed Cedric Daniels, passed away at the age of 60 in his Studio City, California home as result of natural causes, his agent said at the time.

Michael K. Williams, who played the role of Omar Little on the series, died at 54 as result of a fentanyl overdose on September 6, 2021.