LOS ANGELES, USA – James Ransone, an American actor recognised for his work on television and in film, died on Friday, apparently by suicide, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. He was 46.
Mr. Ransone, who was born in Maryland, was widely known for portraying Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series “The Wire” and for playing Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror film “It: Chapter Two.”
Over the course of his career, he appeared in a range of television dramas and feature films.
He had roles in television series including “Generation Kill” and “Bosch.” His final television appearance was in a Season 2 episode of “Poker Face” that aired in June, according to The Movie Database.
In film, Mr. Ransone’s credits included performances in the “Sinister” horror franchise, “Tangerine,” “Mr. Right,” and the “Black Phone” series of films.
Early Life and Education
In a 2016 interview with Interview magazine, Ransone spoke candidly about the difficulties he experienced while growing up.
“I did not fit in well with all of the kids,” he said. “Adolescence was a really hard time for me—as I think it is for most kids.”
He said that traditional schooling had been challenging and that his mother eventually found an arts school where he could audition.
“I think it saved me as a kid,” he said. “Going to arts school saved me.”
Mr. Ransone later enrolled in film school in New York but said he did not complete the programme because he failed to attend classes regularly.
He described spending several years pursuing small acting opportunities while also playing music, at one point considering a career as a musician.
Career and Personal Reflections
After several years, he said he came to see acting as his primary vocation.
“I woke up at 27 after being on heroin for five years,” Ransone said in the 2016 interview. “It was like I sobered up and I realised: ‘My job is being an actor. This is crazy!’”
He said he became sober six or seven months before joining the cast of “Generation Kill,” a role he described as personally significant.
Ransone noted that his father was a Vietnam War veteran and that working alongside Marines who had experienced combat at a young age gave him new insight.
“A lot of things started to make sense to me in a different way,” he said. “It didn’t do so much for my career, but it shaped me and the way that I think about my life.”
Ransone is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children.
His representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
If you or someone you know may be struggling or in emotional distress, help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. In the United Kingdom, Samaritans can be reached at 116 123 or at www.samaritans.org. In Nigeria, support and referrals are available through the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) at www.mentallyaware.org. If you are outside these countries, local helplines and support services can be found through international crisis-support organisations, including SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
