The cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine have paid tribute to Andre Braugher following his death at the age of 61.
The actor, known for playing Captain Raymond Holt in the comedy, passed away on Monday following a brief illness, his publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed to Variety.
His devastated Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-stars took to social media to pay tribute to Andre following the sad news of his death.
Terry Crews, who portrayed Terry Jeffords in the Fox and NBC sitcom, thanked Andre for his ‘wisdom’ and ‘friendship’ across the eight years they starred together.
Alongside a picture of Andre, Terry penned: ‘Can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent.
‘This hurts. You left us too soon. You taught me so much. I will be forever grateful for the experience of knowing you.
‘Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness, and your friendship. Deepest condolences to your wife and family in this difficult time. You showed me what a life well lived looks like.’
Kyra Sedgwick also took to her own Instagram to share her ‘heartbreak’ and admitted that ‘playing his other half in Brooklyn Nine-Nine will forever be one of the highlights of my career’.
Kyra, who starred as played NYPD Commissioner Madeline Wuntch, shared a throwback selfie of herself in costume alongside Andre as she planted a kiss on his cheek.
‘Heartbroken to hear about the passing of the brilliant Andre Braugher. Sending love to all of his family and friends,’ she penned in a caption.
Meanwhile, Dirk Blocker, who played bumbling detective Michael Hitchcock on the hit show, called Braugher ‘fiercely intelligent’ and ‘remarkably kind’.
He wrote: ‘Fiercely intelligent, remarkably kind, supportive, generous and possessed a deep and extraordinary talent, and had even more to offer. I am devastated.
‘I love him. The 9 years I was able to work with him and to just be in his presence was truly a blessing. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.’
Chelsea Peretti, known as Gina Linetti in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, also shared a snap of Andre posing with a painted portrait of his own character Raymond to her social media.
‘Love you. Will miss your dulcet tones. Forever lucky to have gone on such a journey with you. Ringside seat,’ she gushed.
‘You were so funny to me and the epitome of still waters run deep. I will always cherish our conversations, often with me hanging in your doorway barring your exit, and the insane opportunity to be your sidekick.
‘Is it weird that I am also grieving for what Captain Holt meant to [my character] Gina?’
Joe Lo Truglio shared his fond memories of Andre and sweetly told how he would fly home every weekend while filming Brooklyn Nine-Nine to be with his wife Ami and their three sons – Michael, 31, Isaiah, 27, and John, 20.
Joe, who played Charles Boyle, wrote in a lengthy tribute: ‘So many wonderful stories will be told about Andre but for now, all my love goes to his wife Ami and his three boys, who he loved very much and flew back every weekend from the show to be with.
‘We all know how powerful an actor he was, but even more, Andre knew exactly well his most important role and was deeply proud of it (sic).
‘He spoke often about his sons, and knew how lucky he was to have Ami. I’m grateful to them all for allowing us to share eight years with him.
‘He was committed and passionate about the things he loved. And that voice. It laid anchor to the roughest of dialogue. What you probably don’t know is that Andre could sing too, and did often at lunch.
‘At first, it was odd because well – it was Andre Braugher crooning at full volume from behind closed doors – but then very quickly it made all the sense in the world, because the man was so full of song and that’s why the world took notice.
‘I miss him so much already. What an honor to work with a man who knew what it was really all about. I feel blessed and thankful. Miss you Capt Holt. Love, Porkchop.’
Melissa Fumero, who played Amy Santiago, poignantly re-shared an old post of Andre’s character Raymond’s empty desk to her Instagram Stories as she paid tribute.
Joel McKinnon Miller also took to Instagram to share a black-and-white snap of Andre on the set of Brooklyn Nine-Nine as he shared his condolences with the star’s family.
An actor prepares… Sending love to Andre’s family and friends and all of us who had the honor of working with him,’ Joel – who starred as Norm Scully – penned.
Marc Evan Jackson, known as Kevin Cozner on the show, took to social media to share a sweet selfie of Andre hugging him, alongside the simple caption: ‘O Captain. My Captain.’
As well as his Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-stars, a whole host of acting talents also paid tribute to Andre as they mourned his passing.
Viola Davis – who starred alongside Andre in ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘Good Times’ in 2019 – admitted she was ‘heartbroken’ after hearing the sad news.
‘Heartbreaking. You went way too soon,’ she wrote on Tuesday in a post to her 12million Instagram followers.
‘I loved every minute of working with you – your talent, your bottomless heart, your love of your family, your wife. You were a great man. God bless your children, your beautiful wife. You will be missed Andre Braugher.’
The pair also co-starred as Dr. Charlene Barton and General George Mancheck in 2008’s two-part sci-fi miniseries The Andromeda Strain, based on Michael Crichton’s 1969 novel.
And in 2003, Viola guest-starred in one episode of CBS crime drama series Hack, in which Andre starred as Philadelphia police officer Marcellus Washington.
Josh Lucas co-starred with Andre in Wolfgang Petersen’s 2006 disaster film Poseidon, and wrote that he was ‘an actor and man I always deeply respect.’
‘He was one of the first actors I ever worked with,’ the 52-year-old SAG Award nominee said.
‘And years later we did Poseidon together. I saw him perform Shakespeare in the Park and it was beyond memorable. It was an early preview and towards the end during his monologue as Henry V he just stopped. Dead stop. Silence.
‘He put his head down and clearly we all realize he had forgotten his lines. The pause lasted what seemed an eternity and then like lightning he whipped his head up and exploded with greatness, word perfect. It was a performance I will always remember.’
He also called Andre ‘one of my fave character actors’, adding: ‘Wow, man this is sad for his loved ones and family and friends and for the legions of fans who loved his work. Rest in power #AndreBraugher.’
Today anchor Al Roker shared a snap of the pair smiling together captioned: ‘His honesty and integrity shone through every role he portrayed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.’
Two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter fondly recalled collaborating with Braugher in FX Network’s 2006 heist miniseries Thief and said the ‘powerful actor’ was ‘nothing short of seeing pure talent and integrity at work.’
Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph – who never had the opportunity of acting with the Kojak alum – retweeted the tragic news and wrote: ‘This really shook me! RIP Andre!’
Between 2009-2011, Andre starred in TNT’s Men of a Certain Age and co-creator Mike Royce wrote on Facebook: ‘Hard to even process this news. Andre was the best actor in the world and an incredible human being. An incomprehensible loss.’
Andre also received a touching tribute from Shondaland founder Shonda Rhimes, who said she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news and called him ‘an extraordinary actor’ and a ‘warm and kind soul.’
Shonda, 53, executive produced The Good Fight actor’s final acting project – Netflix’s upcoming eight-episode murder-mystery The Residence.
It’s unclear when audiences will get to see Andre’s posthumous curtain call as A.B. Wynter in the White House series, created by Paul William Davies, but it is expected to premiere next year.
Andre is survived by his wife of nearly 32 years Ami Brabson and their three sons – Michael, 31; Isaiah, 27; and John, 20.
The Classical Theatre of Harlem trustee – who graduated from Stanford University in 1984 – also leaves behind his brother Charles Jennings and mother Sally Braugher.
