‘The Wire’ Actor James Ransone Dead at 46

The nature of the death of James Ransone has stunned fans and colleagues alike, especially because he had spoken so openly about his past and seemed to have overcome it.

James Ransone, the actor whose troubled brilliance lit up some of television's darkest dramas, has died at the age of 46. His body was discovered in a Los Angeles shed on Friday, December 19.

James Ransone at premiere of the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill" in 2008 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Following confirmation of his death, Ransone's private battles, celebrated screen career, and close family have all returned to public attention, this time, in mourning.

James Ransone discusses the film, 'In A Valley of Violence' at the Build Series at AOL HQ on October 17, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the actor's death was officially ruled a suicide, with the manner listed as hanging. Records list the place of death as a shed in Los Angeles.

James Ransone attends an advanced screening of Magnolia Pictures' "Tangerine" on June 24, 2015 | Source: Getty Images

His case, number 2025-19778, remains open, although the body has been cleared for release. The report names Gerardo Meza as the investigating officer, with Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Richard Ou assigned to the case.

TMZ reported that the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call following the death. Officers completed a formal death investigation report. No foul play was suspected.

James Ransone attends the Film Independent filmmaker grant and Spirit Award nominees brunch on January 9, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

Ransone was best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Ziggy Sobotka in season two of HBO's "The Wire," a raw, unstable character that earned him a lasting fan base and critical attention.

Over the years, Ransone continued working with HBO, returning in 2008 for the acclaimed miniseries "Generation Kill," in which he played U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Josh Ray Person.

James Ransone attends the premiere of "Annabelle Comes Home" at Regency Village Theatre on June 20, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Two days after his death, Ransone's wife, Jamie McPhee, posted a devastating tribute on social media. Dated December 21, the message painted a portrait of love and irreplaceable loss.

"I told you I have loved you 1000 times before and I know I will love you again. You told me I need to be more like you and you need to be more like me and you were so right. Thank you for giving me the greatest gifts you Jack and Violet. We are forever," she wrote.

A GoFundMe campaign launched shortly afterward describes Ransone as a "beloved husband, father, and friend", emphasizing that "his family was the center of his life." As of Monday, December 22, the fund had raised $41,789 — 35 percent of its $120,000 goal — to support McPhee and their children.

Beyond his television acclaim, Ransone carved out a bold film career that veered between independent cinema and major horror franchises.

He appeared in the controversial "Ken Park," the Sundance hit "Tangerine," and the box office horror successes "Sinister," "Sinister 2," and "The Black Phone." He also played the adult Eddie Kaspbrak in the Stephen King sequel "It: Chapter Two."

James Ransone attends the premiere of "It Chapter Two" on August 26, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

His very first on-screen role came in 2001 with the cult space-western "The American Astronaut." In the hours after news of his death broke, tributes poured in from those who had worked with him.

HBO posted a tribute image on X, reading, "In loving memory of James Ransone." Production company Blumhouse added, "We are saddened by the passing of James Ransone. We are grateful to have worked with him [...] Our thoughts are with his loved ones."

Ransone never shied away from his past. In a 2016 interview, he spoke openly about his battle with heroin addiction, a struggle that began in his early 20s.

"I woke up at 27 after being on heroin for five years. It was like I sobered up and I realized, 'My job is being an actor. This is crazy!'" he said. He credited his eventual sobriety with giving him the stability to take on the responsibilities that came with his later roles, including "Generation Kill."

James Ransone during HBO's premiere of "The Wire" on November 19, 2013 | Source: Getty Images

In 2021, Ransone made headlines when he accused a former middle school tutor of sexually abusing him in 1992, when he was a child.

He reported the allegations to Baltimore County police. Though prosecutors declined to press charges, Ransone remained outspoken about his decision to come forward.

James Ransone attends the Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 27, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

"The bigger issue for me is that he was around other children. This isn't really about me as a victim anymore," he told The Baltimore Sun at the time. Authorities later confirmed that no charges were filed.

His passing leaves behind not only a legacy of iconic roles but also a family broken by grief and a fandom stunned by the loss of someone who always seemed to give everything onscreen.

James Ransone as Reiss Julian and Toni Trucks as Lisa Davis in "SEAL Team" in 2020 | Source: Getty Images

Ransone is not the only young actor whose tragic death has shaken the entertainment world in recent weeks. Just one month earlier, another promising career was cut short, one marked by talent, turmoil, and a haunting sense of unfinished business.

Spencer Lofranco — best known for his intense turns in "Jamesy Boy" and "Gotti" — died suddenly on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at just 33 years old.

Spencer Lofranco attends the "King Cobra" premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival at Regal Battery Park 11 on April 16, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

While fans reel in disbelief, officials in British Columbia have launched an active investigation into the cause of his untimely death, which remains undetermined.

Adding to the haunting silence, Spencer's brother, Santino Lofranco, confirmed the devastating news via an emotional Instagram post — only to later make his account private, scrubbing the heartfelt tribute from public view. Their father, Rocco Lofranco, a prominent personal injury attorney in Toronto, has yet to make a statement.

Spencer Lofranco attends "The Cinema Society" screening of DreamWorks Studios' "People Like Us" on June 25, 2012, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

But behind the flashes of the paparazzi and the shimmer of his on-screen success, Spencer's life was anything but picture-perfect. Born on October 18, 1992, in Toronto, Ontario, Spencer was the son of opera singer Amy Lofranco and attorney Rocco (Rocky) C. Lofranco.

His parents divorced when he was still a child, and he and his older brother, Santino, were raised in Thornhill, Ontario. From ninth to twelfth grade, Spencer attended military school, a far cry from the glamorous industry he'd one day enter.

Actor Spencer Lofranco attends Angeleno's Issue release party on April 12, 2016, in West Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

"My mom growing up was a dancer, an opera singer, and she also did acting," Spencer told Interview Magazine in January 2014. "Growing up, sometimes my mom would take me to auditions and I would sit in the waiting room with her."

But not everyone in the family supported his theatrical leanings. "My dad didn't want me to be an actor; he wanted me to be a hockey player and become a lawyer. That didn't happen," expressed Spencer.

Spencer Lofranco attends the "King Cobra" premiere with fellow actors at Regal Battery Park 11 on April 16, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Despite a childhood spent in waiting rooms, it wasn't until age 17 that Spencer fully realized acting was his true calling. "I was always a funny guy, always trying to make people laugh and always the center of attention," he shared with Interview Magazine.

"I guess I was being an actor my whole life. I finally realized what I was doing and it was just getting me in trouble. I went to summer acting classes. Then I did a year conservatory at New York Film Academy and then that's when I got 'Jamesy Boy,'" added Spencer.

Spencer Lofranco is pictured at the "Gotti" premiere on June 14, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Before that breakout, however, Spencer made his feature debut in the 2013 indie romantic comedy "At Middleton," starring alongside Andy García and Vera Farmiga.

He played Conrad Hartman, a high school senior touring a college campus. The film premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival, putting him on the radar of casting directors.

Spencer Lofranco is seen at the "People Like Us" screening, circa June 25, 2012 | Source: Getty Images

His first starring role came in 2014's "Jamesy Boy," where he portrayed James Burns, a teen navigating life between juvenile detention and redemption.

The same year, he appeared as Harry Brooks in Angelina Jolie's searing World War II drama "Unbroken," opposite Mary-Louise Parker, Domhnall Gleeson, and Ving Rhames.

Mary-Louise Parker and Spencer Lofranco attend the Contentmode HopeNorth benefit at The Jane Hotel on April 19, 2012, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

More gritty roles followed: the thriller "Home," Southern drama "Dixieland" (which premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival), and 2016's controversial biopic "King Cobra," centered on the life of gay adult film actor Sean Paul Lockhart.

Spencer Lofranco is pictured at the Tribeca Film Festival, on April 16, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

Then came "Gotti" in 2018 — Spencer's final on-screen performance — where he starred alongside John Travolta and Kelly Preston as John Gotti Jr., the reluctant heir to a criminal empire. The role should've launched him into the next tier of Hollywood. But behind the scenes, things were falling apart.

Just months after the release of "Gotti," fans were stunned to discover Spencer living homeless on the Venice Beach boardwalk with his dog.

Spencer Lofranco attends the "Gotti" premiere on June 14, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

In a June 2018 YouTube video filmed by content creator Brennen Taylor, Spencer revealed, "I do art out here." While he tried to remain upbeat, his words told a deeper story of survival and solitude. "You're like fully exposed because everyone's always walking around... There's no privacy. It's like if you lived in a glass house."

But Spencer's fall from grace may have started years earlier — in August 2013, when he was involved in a devastating hit-and-run.

Mary-Louise Parker and Spencer Lofranco share a hug at The Jane Hotel on April 19, 2012, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

According to CBS News, Spencer struck bicyclist Camille Banham with his SUV, leaving her with a broken hip and multiple fractures. He got out of the vehicle, apologized, and then fled the scene.

In a harrowing statement at his sentencing, Camille said, "I used to call what happened to me an accident, and it would've been an accident if Spencer had stayed and helped me after he got out of his car and saw me injured on the side of the road, but instead he chose to leave me."

The judge increased Spencer's sentence from 10 to 50 days of community service, added two years of probation, and ordered him to pay $161,000 in restitution.

RJ Mitte and Spencer Lofranco attend the "King Cobra" cast dinner on April 15, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

His defense attorney, Michael Levin, argued that the young actor was panicked, not malicious. "It was an accident. The crime here was not leaving his identification at the scene. That's not what injured her, and for that reason you have to look at not so much the injuries as you have to look at what happened after and what happened after does not make him a monster."

Even as his world unraveled, Spencer remained earnest in his devotion to storytelling. "I want to do real-life, candid films," he told Interview. "I don't want to be thrown into anything that could jeopardize my career. I want to be wise about what I choose." He named Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, and River Phoenix as actors whose careers he hoped to emulate.

Spencer Lofranco is seen on April 15, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

But his own story would end far too soon — not with a comeback, but with an unanswered tragedy, a brother's silent tribute, and a legacy still haunted by promise and pain.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.