It’s heartbreaking news—James Ransone, the intense and talented actor best remembered for playing Ziggy Sobotka on HBO’s The Wire, has passed away at just 46.
He was found unresponsive on Friday afternoon, December 19, at a home in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles. Police responded around 2 p.m., and while there were no signs of foul play, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later ruled it a suicide.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ransone had a tough time fitting in during his early school years. He once opened up about how switching to the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson really turned things around for him.
“Adolescence was rough—I didn’t click with the regular school crowd,” he told Interview Magazine years ago. “But going to that arts school? I think it honestly saved me.”
His dad was a Vietnam vet, a Green Beret who got shot during the war, and Ransone was candid about how that trauma affected his family. “I only really saw the tough parts because that’s my dad,” he shared.
Ransone’s career took off with that raw, unforgettable performance as Ziggy—the chaotic dock worker whose spiral gripped everyone in Season 2 of The Wire. From there, he became a go-to for edgy, vulnerable roles, especially in horror: the quirky deputy in Sinister and Sinister 2, adult Eddie Kaspbrak in It: Chapter Two with Bill Hader and Jessica Chastain, and Max in The Black Phone (and its recent sequel).
He was passionate about defending horror as real art, once pushing back at critics by saying, “Tell that to William Friedkin or Stanley Kubrick.”
Other highlights included playing Corporal Josh Ray Person in Generation Kill—another HBO gem—where filming in Africa and hanging out with real Marines gave him a glimpse into his dad’s younger days. “It was a highlight of my life, not just the show,” he said.
Off-screen, Ransone was open about his demons. He got sober at 27 after struggling with heroin addiction for years. In 2021, he went public on Instagram about being sexually abused by a math tutor back in 1992, hoping it would help others feel less alone.
David Simon, creator of The Wire, called his passing “grievous and awful,” praising how Ransone poured himself into his work and built real bonds on set that felt like family.
He’s survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee (often called Skipper by friends), and their two young kids, Jack and Violet. Jamie has shared a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in his honor, and tributes have been pouring in from co-stars and fans alike.
Such a tough loss for everyone who knew him or loved his work. If you’re struggling, please reach out—help is out there.
What are your favorite roles of his? The Wire fans especially—Ziggy hit different, didn’t he? Share below.