(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star died at age 61 in December 2023. His rep confirmed at the time that the actor died after a recent illness, but now reports came out that it was due to lung cancer.
It is unclear when Braugher was diagnosed with the illness.
Braugher was in a ton of movies and television series after a stunning debut as a sensitive soldier in the 1989 film “Glory,” where Denzel Washington won an Oscar about a unit of Black soldiers during the Civil War.
Alternating between theater, film and television, the Julliard-trained actor played historical figures such as Jackie Robinson, A. Philip Randolph and Tuskegee Airmen commander Benjamin O. Davis Jr., all in TV movies; showed off his villainous side as a manipulative Iago in a production of “Othello”; and brought an understated gravitas to his portrayal of Dean Baquet, the executive editor of the New York Times, in the movie drama “She Said” (2022), about the paper’s investigation into sexual-abuse accusations against Harvey Weinstein.
In the “Homicide” series, he played the philosophical, tightly wound detective Frank Pembleton. As Pembleton, Mr. Braugher became known for interrogation scenes in which he went head to head with drug dealers, murderers and other heavies played by the likes of Steve Buscemi, Paul Giamatti and James Earl Jones. The part brought him his first Emmy Award, in 1998, the year he left the series to focus on film roles. He received a second Emmy in 2006, for starring as a professional criminal in the FX miniseries “Thief.”
Braugher remained much in demand after that series, co-starring in the thriller “Primal Fear,” as well as director Spike Lee’s “Get on the Bus” and the sci-fi thriller “Frequency” before starring in his own series, “Gideon’s Crossing,” as a brilliant oncologist who trains young doctors.
Though he’d dipped his toe into comedy in the TNT dramedy “Men of a Certain Age,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” still represented a major shift for Braugher, who was known for acting in dark and heavy dramas.
“I just felt as though it was an opportunity to do something strikingly different from the rest of my career,” Braugher told the AP in 2019. “I like it because it just simply opens up my mind and forces me to think in a different way. So I think I’ve become much more sort of supple as an actor, and more open to the incredible number of possibilities of how to play a scene.”
He would be nominated for four Emmys during the run.
Black men in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of lung cancer incidence and mortality compared to other racial and ethnic groups. While smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer in all populations, research suggests that other factors may contribute to these disparities, including biological differences and socioeconomic factors.
Higher Incidence and Mortality: Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer and more likely to die from it than white men.
Later Stage Diagnosis: Black individuals with lung cancer are often diagnosed at a later stage, which is associated with poorer outcomes.
Lower Treatment Rates: Black patients are less likely to receive surgery or other effective treatments for lung cancer compared to white patients.
Socioeconomic Factors: Access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, and exposure to environmental risk factors can play a role in disparities.
Biological Factors: Research is ongoing to understand if there are biological differences in lung cancer development or progression between racial groups.
Clinical Trial Participation: Black individuals are underrepresented in lung cancer clinical trials, which can limit access to new and potentially more effective treatments.
Stress: Some studies suggest that stress from living in high-crime neighborhoods may also contribute to higher lung cancer rates, according to UIC today.
Lower Screening Rates: Black individuals are less likely to be screened for lung cancer, which can lead to later diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
Speaking with Variety in 2020, Braugher talked about how he always tried to put his wife and kids first amid his busy career. “I’ve got three boys, and I want them to know me as someone other than the guy who takes them to the circus every once in a while,” he told the publication. “I wanted to be there through the course of their life because I know how important fathers are.”
Braugher was married to actress Ami Brabson and together they had three children, John Wesley Braugher, Michael Braugher and Isaiah Braugher. Though his sons weren’t in the spotlight as much as Braugher, the actor spoke fondly of his family in interviews.
The couple tied the knot in 1991 and were together for more than three decades before Braugher’s death. Over the course of their relationship, the two made a number of appearances together, including the 1996 Emmy Awards, where Braugher was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a drama series for his role in Homicide: Life on the Street, and the 2014 Emmy Awards, where he was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Their last red carpet together was in November 2022 as they attended a screening of The Good Fight series finale.
Braugher’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” co-star Terry Crews was among those paying tribute to him Monday night.
“Can’t believe you’re gone so soon,” Crews said on Instagram. “I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent. This hurts.” He added, “You showed me what a life well-lived looked like.”
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