Bobby J Brown, best known for his role as Officer Bobby Brown in The Wire, has died aged 62.
The late screenstar is understood to have died in a barn fire, where he died from smoke inhalation, as his daughter told TMZ.
The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also confirmed Brown’s cause of death was ruled diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation, and determined an accident.
Brown reportedly entered the barn to jump-start a vehicle when the fire started. He requested a fire extinguisher, but the barn was already engulfed by flames by the time one arrived.
His wife suffered severe burns while attempting to rescue him, according to Variety.
In a tribute, his agent, Albert Bramante, told TMZ: ‘I am upset and saddened. He was such a good actor and person. He was totally dedicated to the craft of acting and was a joy to work with.’
Bramante added to NBC News: ‘[He] was a formidable talent and a man of great integrity.
‘From his storied history as a Golden Gloves champion to his unforgettable presence in The Wire, Bobby brought a rare level of authenticity and heart to his work.’
He appeared in 12 episodes in his role in the ensemble cast for the Baltimore-based police drama The Wire, which ran from 2002 to 2008.
Beyond this show, he also appeared in three episodes of Law & Order: SVU and HBO miniseries, We Own This City, in which he played Sgt. Thomas Allers, as well as a cameo in Veep as Crazy Long Shoreman.
Alongside his TV career, he also featured in several movies, including Really Love, Virginia and Off Time. His last onscreen appearance was in a short called Mailman in 2023.
According to IMDB, he also had an upcoming project, the pilot episode for a new TV miniseries called The Sessions.
Brown was born in Washington D.C.and started his career as a professional boxer, where he won five Golden Glove Championships.
He decided to pivot into acting after being inspired by Hollywood star Mickey Rourke, who portrayed a professional boxer in the 1988 movie Homeboy.
As well as acting, Brown has directed two award-winning documentaries. The first,Off the Chain, a history of the pit bull and ‘an unprecedented look into the underground world of dog fighting’ released in 2006.
The second was Tear the Roof Off: The Untold Story of Parliament-Funkadelic in 2016.
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