Really Knowing Andre Braugher

Last week, the death of another American, television and film actor, Andre Braugher was announced. 

He’s death was quite unexpected, at least to me, coming off the success of the TV series Brooklyn 99 (2013 – 2021), in which he played Captain Holt, and having shot three episodes of an upcoming Shonda Rhimes The Residence a series about chief usher in the White House. 

Although I cannot recall my first movie encounter with Braugher, he is one of those actors that I subconsciously assumed whatever role he played or movie he starred in was worth watching. And I am quite sorry it took his death for me to research his acting repertoire. 

Besides playing the infuriatingly intelligent but likeable and dead-panned humored Captain Holt in Brooklyn 99, for which he was nominated for an Emmy award thrice; Braugher’s breakout television role was decades back in Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999), where he played a detective, Frank Pembleton famous in his precinct for his skilled methods of interrogation. A role that won him his first Emmy and made him a star. The show also produced what was described as the best episode on procedural/homicidal TV titled Three Men and Adena – where Braugher’s character Pembleton, his protegee Tim spent the one-hour long episode grilling a suspect for the murder of an 11-year-old girl. Why this series is not an any streaming platform I would never know. 

Other popular TV series starring the actor include Ray Romano’s Men of a Certain Age (2009 – 2011) and Last Resort. 

Braugher has also starred in a number of movies, many of which he played minor roles, but others his roles were much pivotal like his first film Glory (1989), She Said (2022), Frequency (2000), The Mist (2007) among others.

Acquainting myself of his impressive acting repertoire, helped me process what I liked about the actor.

One, Braugher is a good actor, not quite methodic but riveting to watch. He brings something unique to roles, and elevates whatever scenes or role he assumes.

He is well spoken, and clearly enunciates his words, an indication of his love for Shakespeare and theatric background before moving to television and film. He attended Stanford University, changing his major during his sophomore to graduate with a BA in Drama in 1984, and proceeded to study and graduate in Drama from Julliard in 1988. He starred in his first and successful movie Glory a year after graduation. 

Two, He isn’t Pidgeon-holed as a Black Actor. When I think of it, has never been limited to black movies, as most black actors in the US are. In fact, he holds his own compared to universally accepted actors as Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, even if less conspicuously. 

While I will say, that he was casted in a lot of detective roles, but Braugher had such talent that he made each role different and unique.

Finally, getting to know more of his works and his achievements – Winner, 1998 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Homicide: Life on the Street, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Thief 2006; Obie Award for Performances in The Whipping Man (2011), Henry V (1997); winner, 2016 and 2014 Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor Brooklyn 99, and winner, 1998 and 1997 TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama for Homicide: Life on the Street, all in his lifetime. I was thrilled.

I believe that the best way to remember this fine actor, beyond marathons of his movies on cable, is to make his award-winning series available on livestreaming platforms, so those unaware of his talent and works will have that pleasure.  

Braugher is survived by his wife Amy Brabson, and three sons John Wesley Braugher, Michael Braugher and Isaiah Braugher.