‘The Wire’ Star Dead At 46

James Ransone, the character actor best known for his volatile turn as dockworker Ziggy Sobotka on HBO’s “The Wire,” has died. He was 46.

Ransone died by suicide on Friday in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

He is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children. McPhee shared a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness on her social media profile following his death.

The medical examiner listed Ransone’s cause of death as “hanging,” and his place of death as “shed.” Records state his body is ready for release.

Ransone rose to prominence playing Ziggy Sobotka, the troubled son of union boss Frank Sobotka, portrayed by Chris Bauer, during the second season of “The Wire.” His performance as the reckless Baltimore dockworker became one of the show’s most tragic storylines.

He appeared in 12 episodes of the series in 2003.

James Ransone as Ziggy Sobotka in HBO’s “The Wire.” (Screenshot)

“The Wire,” widely regarded as one of television’s greatest dramas, aired from 2002 to 2008 and starred Dominic West, Michael Kenneth Williams, John Doman, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Frankie Faison, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., and others.

Ransone became a familiar face across HBO productions, later appearing in “Generation Kill” and “Treme.” He also had a recurring role on Amazon’s “Bosch.”

His final television appearance came earlier this year in a Season 2 episode of “Poker Face” that aired in June.

Beyond television, Ransone built a steady film career that spanned genres, from horror to indie drama. His credits included “Prom Night” (2008), “Sinister” (2012), “Sinister 2” (2015), “Tangerine” (2015), “Mr. Right” (2015), “It Chapter Two” (2019), and “The Black Phone” (2021). He was also set to appear in “Black Phone 2,” scheduled for release in 2025.

In 2021, Ransone publicly revealed he was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

He said his former tutor, Timothy Rualo, sexually abused him multiple times over a six-month period in 1992 at his family’s home in Phoenix, Maryland.

Ransone made the allegation public by posting a lengthy note on Instagram that he said he had sent directly to his alleged abuser.

Known for his intense screen presence and willingness to portray deeply flawed characters, Ransone earned a reputation as a fearless performer whose work left a lasting impact.

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