James Ransone, Actor Known for Roles in The Wire and It: Chapter Two, Dies by Suicide at 46

James Ransone, an actor known for his roles in The Wire and It: Chapter Two, has died. He was 46.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Ransone died on Friday, Dec. 19, in an apparent suicide.

Ransone was born in Baltimore, Md., to Joyce (née Peterson) and James Ransone II on June 2, 1979.

He played the character Ziggy Sobotka on the hit HBO series The Wire, and the elder version of Eddie Kaspbrak in It: Chapter Two, the sequel to the horror film It, based on Stephen King‘s novel. (The younger version of the role was portrayed by Jack Dylan Grazer.)

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Ransone’s other film credits included 2021’s The Black Phone — as well as this year’s sequel Black Phone 2 — and Sean Baker‘s 2015 film Tangerine.

He also made appearances on TV series, including Law & Order, Hawaii Five-0 and, most recently, Natasha Lyonne‘s Poker Face.

Ransone got his break starring as Tate in the 2002 teen series Ken Park.

Following the news of his death on Sunday, HBO shared a tribute on X. Alongside a photo of Ransone in The Wire, the network wrote, “In loving memory of James Ransone.”

Production company Blumhouse also remembered Ransone on X, writing: “We are saddened by the passing of James Ransone. We are grateful to have worked with him on The Black Phone and Sinister movies. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”

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