James Ransone, the American actor celebrated for his role as Chester ‘Ziggy’ Sobotka in the HBO crime drama ‘The Wire,’ has died at age 46. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Ransone’s death on December 19 was a suicide, with the cause listed as hanging in a shed, as reported by multiple reliable news outlets on December 21, 2025.
Ransone’s passing was first widely reported on December 21, placing the event within the last 24 hours and qualifying it as having ‘happened today.’ His death has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry, highlighting his impact through roles in critically acclaimed productions.
Born in Baltimore in 1979, Ransone attended the Carver Center for Arts and Technology and began his acting career with a role in the 2002 film ‘Ken Park.’ He rose to prominence with his portrayal of Ziggy Sobotka in the second season of ‘The Wire,’ a performance that showcased his ability to humanize complex, often unlikable characters. Beyond ‘The Wire,’ he played Marine Cpl. Josh Ray Person in the HBO miniseries ‘Generation Kill’ and appeared as Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror film ‘It: Chapter Two.’
His television credits included guest roles on shows such as ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,’ ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ and ‘Treme,’ with his final screen appearance in a June 2025 episode of ‘Poker Face.’ Ransone was married to Jamie McPhee, with whom he had two children, and the family has set up a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in his memory, according to social media posts.
In recent years, Ransone had been open about his personal struggles, including a history of addiction and mental health challenges. He publicly shared that he had been sexually abused as a child by a former tutor, an experience he said contributed to years of substance abuse, including heroin addiction from which he sobered up at age 27. Ransone reported the abuse to authorities in 2020, but no criminal charges were filed.
Colleagues and fans remembered Ransone for his unique talent and vulnerability as an actor. Fellow actor François Arnaud posted a tribute on Instagram, calling him ‘an actor that I was continuously impressed and inspired by.’ His role in ‘It: Chapter Two’ was particularly noted for standing out in a star-studded cast that included Bill Hader and Jessica Chastain.
Ransone’s death highlights ongoing issues related to mental health and the pressures faced by those in the public eye. In interviews, he had spoken candidly about the emotional toll of his profession, once telling Interview magazine that he often ‘wrestled with the catharsis of acting’ and lived in ‘unlikable skin,’ which sometimes left him feeling unwell.
As the entertainment community mourns his loss, the conversation turns to the importance of support systems and resources for mental health. The incident underscores the need for continued awareness and access to crisis intervention services, with organizations like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline available for those in distress, as mentioned in news reports covering his death.
