James Ransone, star of ‘The Wire’ and ‘It: Chapter Two,’ dies at 46

by

James Ransone, known for his roles as a reckless drug dealer on the acclaimed HBO show “The Wire” and in horror movies like “Sinister” and “It: Chapter Two,” passed away in Los Angeles on Friday at the age of 46.

According to the L.A. County medical examiner’s office, Ransone died by suicide.

Ransone, originally from Maryland, first developed his acting skills at the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson, near Baltimore. He began his television career a few years after that.

Jacob Ransone is known for his work in several popular horror movies. He played Max in “The Black Phone,” which tells the story of a teenager kidnapped by a serial killer. The film, based on a short story by Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son), also starred Ethan Hawke. Ransone returned as Max in the follow-up movie, “Black Phone II.”

James Ransone reunited with Ethan Hawke in the horror film “Sinister,” where he played a Deputy. The movie follows a writer who discovers disturbing home movies in his new home. Ransone later appeared in “It: Chapter Two” alongside Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Skarsgård, portraying Eddie Kaspbrak, one of the characters terrorized by the menacing clown, Pennywise.

While talking about his movie, he spoke up for horror films, arguing they shouldn’t be dismissed as unimportant.

When people question his approach, Ransone responds by suggesting they discuss it with acclaimed directors William Friedkin or Stanley Kubrick, as he shared in an interview with Anthem Magazine.

I always enjoyed seeing him pop up in great shows like “Generation Kill,” “Treme,” and “Bosch.” It was a nice surprise to see him one last time in an episode of Peacock’s “Poker Face” back in June – a fun little appearance to cap off his career.

He’s probably best known for playing Ziggy Sobotka in “The Wire,” a highly acclaimed and realistic TV show considered one of the greatest ever made. The show examined life in Baltimore and its systems, and Ransone was in all 12 episodes of the second season, which centered on the decline of the city’s waterfront.

He portrayed the son of a powerful dockworker’s union boss, a charming but manipulative character who often found himself in trouble with smaller-time criminals, yet still managed to win over audiences. One memorable storyline involved him purchasing a duck and adorning it with a diamond necklace, but sadly, the duck died after being overfed alcohol.

The popular HBO show, which ran from 2002 to 2008, featured a talented cast including Dominic West, Michael K. Williams, John Doman, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Frankie Faison, and Lawrence Gilliard Jr., among others.

Entertainment & Arts

I was so shocked and saddened to hear about Lance Reddick’s passing. He was incredible as Cedric Daniels in ‘The Wire,’ and it seems he died peacefully of natural causes, according to reports.

David Simon, the creator of “The Wire,” described the death of actor Steve Ransone as “terrible and heartbreaking” in a statement to the Baltimore Banner.

Simon also cast Ransone in “Generation Kill” and “Treme,” and noted that he wasn’t just dedicated to the work itself, but also to the close, family-like bonds that develop on a successful film set, as expressed in a statement.

I was really interested to hear James Ransone talking after “Sinister 2” came out. He said he’s proud of his work on “The Wire,” but it’s been tough because people still mostly see him as Ziggy. He’s a big horror fan, like me, and he explained that working with directors like Simon, Sean Baker, and Spike Lee really made him aware of a lot of problems in society. It’s cool to see actors using their platform like that, and it makes me appreciate those films even more.

It wasn’t immediately known if Ransone was living in Los Angeles when he died. A person with that name is registered with the California Secretary of State as residing in the Fairfax area.

According to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman, police received a 911 call around 2 p.m. on Friday reporting a possible death. When officers arrived at the location, they discovered a man who appeared to have died by suicide.

Since investigators don’t believe a crime occurred, the medical examiner’s office is leading the investigation, according to Eisenman. She stated she couldn’t verify the deceased individual was Ransone, nor could she release any further information about the 911 call.

I was really saddened to learn about the passing of actor Lance Reddick, known professionally as Ransone. Beyond his impressive career, it’s heartbreaking to discover he was a devoted husband and father of two. His wife, Jamie McPhee, is channeling her grief into something positive, launching a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness – a truly admirable gesture during this difficult time.

Recently, Ransone publicly shared that he is a survivor of sexual abuse and has been open about his challenges with addiction.

He revealed to Interview Magazine in 2016 that he became sober at 27, after struggling with heroin for five years.

I didn’t get sober while working on ‘Generation Kill,’ despite what people believe. I actually got sober six or seven months before that project. I recall being cast in a role in Africa, where I was supposed to be for nearly a year, and being second in command. It felt like a mistake, as I wasn’t sure I could handle that much responsibility.

According to the Baltimore Banner, in 2021, Ransone publicly revealed he was sexually abused in 1992 by a former tutor over a six-month period at his home in Phoenix, Maryland. He shared a detailed letter he wrote to his alleged abuser on Instagram. While police investigated the claims, no charges were filed.

Read More

2025-12-22 05:02