James Ransone, the American actor widely recognized for his role in *The Wire*, has died in Los Angeles.

 James Ransone, the American actor widely recognized for his role in *The Wire*, has died in Los Angeles. 

According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner, Ransone died on Friday, and the death was ruled a suicide.

Ransone gained prominence for portraying Chester “Ziggy” Sobotka, a troubled dockworker who turns to crime in the second season of David Simon’s acclaimed HBO series *The Wire*. He later reunited with Simon on *Generation Kill*, where he starred alongside Alexander Skarsgård.

In *Generation Kill*, Ransone appeared in all seven episodes as Corporal Josh Ray Person, a real-life US Marine. More recently, he was seen in the 2019 film *It Chapter Two*, playing Eddie Kaspbrak.

News of his death sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues across social media. Many praised his performance in *It Chapter Two*, noting how he stood out among a cast that included Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Skarsgård, who played Pennywise.

Actor Wendell Pierce, who worked with Ransone on *The Wire* and *Treme*, shared a heartfelt message online. “Sorry I couldn’t be there for you, brother,” Pierce wrote.

Several filmmakers who collaborated with Ransone during his career, including Spike Lee, Larry Clark, and Sean Baker, also paid tribute. Baker wrote, “I’ll miss you dearly.”

Ransone’s wife, Jamie McPhee, posted a message honoring their life together and their children — six-year-old son Jack and four-year-old daughter Violet. “Thank you for our greatest gifts,” she wrote. “I have loved you a thousand times before and I know I will love you again. We are forever.”

Born in Baltimore in 1979, Ransone studied at the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson, Maryland. He made his screen debut in the 2002 film *Ken Park* before landing his breakthrough role on *The Wire* the following year.

In 2021, Ransone revealed that he had been sexually abused by a former tutor connected to Maryland public schools, a disclosure first reported by *The Baltimore Sun*. He said the trauma contributed to later struggles with alcohol and heroin addiction. According to Page Six, Ransone reported the abuse in 2020, but prosecutors chose not to file charges.

Reflecting on his craft in a 2016 interview with *Interview* magazine, Ransone spoke candidly about the emotional toll of acting. He noted that many of his roles required him to empathize with deeply flawed characters. “I find myself living in a lot of unlikable skin,” he said. “And because of that, I don’t always feel good.”