James Ransone, Acclaimed Actor Known for The Wire, Dies by Suicide at 46
In the days before the news broke, there were no outward signs of trouble. No farewell messages, no public statements, no sudden withdrawal from the spotlight. When the confirmation finally came from authorities in Los Angeles, it landed with a quiet gravity, prompting fans to revisit his performances with a new awareness of the struggles he faced offscreen.
Warning: This article discusses suicide and trauma.
James Ransone, the actor best known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka on HBO’s The Wire, died by suicide at the age of 46. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported that Ransone passed away on Friday in Los Angeles, with the cause of death listed as hanging. The body was reportedly found in a shed and has been released to his family.
Ransone was married and a father of two. Following his death, his wife, Jamie McPhee, shared a link to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in her social media bio, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness.
Breakthrough Role on The Wire
Ransone gained recognition in 2003 for portraying Ziggy Sobotka, the troubled son of union leader Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer), on the second season of The Wire. His character, a dockworker in Baltimore, appeared in 12 episodes. The series, which aired from 2002 to 2008, is widely regarded as one of the greatest television dramas of all time and featured a star-studded ensemble including Dominic West, Michael Kenneth Williams, Idris Elba, and Lance Reddick. Ransone remained closely connected to the series throughout his career, attending premieres and maintaining ties to the cast.
A Versatile Career in Film and Television
Beyond The Wire, Ransone appeared in acclaimed TV projects such as Generation Kill, Treme, and Bosch. His most recent role was in a 2025 episode of Poker Face (Season 2).
Ransone also had a notable film career, with credits including Prom Night (2008), Sinister (2012) and Sinister 2 (2015), Tangerine (2015), Mr. Right (2015), It Chapter Two (2019), The Black Phone (2021), and Black Phone 2 (2025).
Speaking Out About Abuse and Sobriety
In 2021, Ransone publicly shared that he had been s*xually abused as a child by a former tutor, Timothy Rualo, over a six-month period in 1992. He detailed the abuse on Instagram, describing how it contributed to years of shame and struggles with alcoholism and heroin addiction.
Ransone became sober in 2006 and later reported the allegations to Baltimore County police in 2020. The Baltimore County State’s Attorney ultimately declined to file charges. In interviews, he spoke openly about recovery, addiction, and the lasting impact of trauma.
“People think I got sober working on Generation Kill. I didn’t,” he told Interview Magazine in 2016. “I sobered up six or seven months before that. I remember going to Africa and thinking, ‘This is too much responsibility for me.’”
Conclusion
James Ransone’s life and career reflected extraordinary talent alongside profound personal challenges. His performances continue to resonate, and his candid discussions of trauma, addiction, and recovery leave a lasting legacy beyond his acting. His death is a sobering reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and compassion for those facing unseen struggles.