‘The Wire’ Actor James Ransone Dies at 46; Medical Examiner Cites Apparent Suicide

Actor James Ransone, best known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka in the acclaimed television series The Wire, has died at the age of 46. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, his death on Friday is being treated as an apparent suicide.

Ransone, a native of Maryland, also gained widespread recognition for portraying Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror film It: Chapter Two. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he built a reputation as a versatile character actor across television and film.

His television credits included notable appearances in Generation Kill and Bosch, with his final on-screen role coming in Season 2 of Poker Face, which aired in June, according to The Movie Database. In film, Ransone appeared in the Sinister franchise, Tangerine, Mr. Right, and The Black Phone series.

In a 2016 interview with Interview magazine, Ransone spoke candidly about the personal struggles that shaped his early life. He described adolescence as a difficult period, saying he struggled to fit in at traditional public schools. His mother later enrolled him in an arts school, a decision he credited with changing his life.

“I think it saved me as a kid,” he said. “Going to arts school saved me.”

Ransone later attended film school in New York but admitted that he dropped out due to poor attendance. He spent several years navigating small acting roles while also playing music, at one point considering a career as a musician before committing fully to acting.

He also spoke openly about his battle with substance abuse, revealing that he spent several years addicted to heroin before achieving sobriety in his late twenties. He described his work on Generation Kill as a turning point, both personally and professionally.

The experience held special meaning for Ransone, whose father was a Vietnam War veteran. Being around young Marines during the production, he said, helped him better understand his father’s past and reshaped how he viewed his own life.

“It didn’t do so much for my career, but it shaped me and the way that I think about my life,” he said.

James Ransone is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children. His representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

If you or someone you know is struggling, mental health professionals encourage seeking help from local support services or crisis hotlines.