Andre Braugher, Emmy-winning actor who starred in 'Homicide' and 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' dies at 61

Emmy-winning actor Andre Braugher, known for roles in "Homicide: Life on The Street" and "Brooklyn 99," died Mon. at 61. He had breakthrough role in '89's "Glory" and won Emmys for "Homicide" and "Thief." He shifted to comedy in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," for which he was nominated for four Emmys. He was married to "Homicide" co-star Ami Brabson for over 30 years.

Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles on the series “Homicide: Life on The Street” and “Brooklyn 99,” died Monday at age 61.

Braugher's publicist Jennifer Allen told The Associated Press the actor died after a short illness.

The Chicago-born actor had his breakthrough role in 1989's “Glory,” starring alongside Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, who won an Oscar for the film about an all-Black army regiment during the the Civil War.

Despite the part, he told The Associated Press in 2019 that he struggled to find work in a Hollywood where roles for African American actors were “few and far between. Period.”

But he would establish himself with the role of Det. Frank Pembleton, which he would play for seven seasons in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” a gritty police drama on NBC based on a book by David Simon, who would go on to create “The Wire.”

He would win his first career Emmy for the role, taking the trophy for lead actor in a drama series in 1998.

He would win his second for lead actor in a miniseries or movie for the 2006 limited series “Thief” on FX. Braugher would be nominated for 11 Emmys overall.