James Ransone, the American actor best known for his role as Chester “Ziggy” Sobotka in HBO’s acclaimed series The Wire, has died by suicide in Los Angeles at the age of 46, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

Ransone also appeared in Generation Kill, portraying Marine Cpl.

Josh Ray Person, and starred in horror films including It: Chapter Two, Sinister, and The Black Phone.

In It: Chapter Two, he played Eddie Kaspbrak alongside Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Skarsgård, who portrayed Pennywise.

Fans and colleagues took to social media to express condolences. Wendell Pierce, who worked with Ransone on The Wire and Treme, wrote, “Sorry I couldn’t be there for you, brother.”

Filmmakers Sean Baker, Spike Lee, and Larry Clark also paid tribute, with Baker posting, “I’ll miss you dearly.”

Ransone’s widow, Jamie McPhee, shared a note honouring their two children, Jack, 6, and Violet, 4, writing, “I have loved you 1000 times before, and I know I will love you again. We are forever.”

Born in Baltimore in 1979, Ransone studied theatre at the Carver Centre for Arts and Technology in Towson, Maryland.

He made his film debut in the 2002 teen drama Ken Park before gaining recognition on The Wire’s second season, which focused on Baltimore’s docks.
His depiction of Ziggy, the distressed dockworker, garnered critical praise and turned into one of his most unforgettable roles.

Ransone openly spoke about his struggles, including addiction and incidents of sexual abuse.

In 2021, he disclosed that he had suffered sexual abuse by a past tutor in 1992, which he claimed led to years of heroin and alcohol dependency. He had achieved sobriety at age 27.

David Simon, creator of The Wire, described Ransone’s death as “grievous and awful,” praising his dedication both to his craft and the camaraderie on set.

Ransone also appeared in Treme, Bosch, and the Peacock comedy crime series Poker Face.

Ransone’s final years were marked by continued work in film and television, along with advocacy and openness about mental health.

Thirty Mile Zone (TMZ) reported that he lived in Los Angeles with his family, and his wife has since set up a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.