Viola Davis lead the celebrity tributes mourning the loss of Andre Braugher, whom she co-starred with in ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘Good Times’ back in 2019.
‘Heartbreaking. You went way too soon,’ the 58-year-old EGOT champ wrote Tuesday to her 12M 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 two-time Emmy winner passed away, age 61, on Monday night following a brief illness his publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed to Variety.
In 2008, the Juilliard School grads co-starred as Dr. Charlene Barton and General George Mancheck in A&E Network’s two-part sci-fi miniseries The Andromeda Strain, which was based on Michael Crichton’s 1969 novel.
Viola Davis (L) lead the celebrity tributes mourning the loss of Andre Braugher (R), whom she co-starred with in ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘Good Times’ back in 2019
The 58-year-old EGOT champ wrote Tuesday: ‘Heartbreaking. You went way too soon. 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’
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.
Also grieving Braugher was Kyra Sedgwick, who Instastoried that ‘playing his other half in Brooklyn Nine-Nine will forever be one of the highlights of my career.’
The 58-year-old Emmy winner – who played NYPD Commissioner Madeline Wuntch – also wrote: ‘Heartbroken to hear about the passing of the brilliant Andre Braugher. Sending love to all of his family and friends.’
Josh Lucas co-starred with the Chicago native 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 wrote.
‘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.’
The Tonight Show bandleader Questlove called Andre ‘one of my fave character actors’ and wrote: ‘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.’
The two-time Emmy winner passed away, age 61, on Monday night following a brief illness (pictured in 2006)
Also grieving Andre was Kyra Sedgwick (L), who Instastoried that ‘playing his other half in Brooklyn Nine-Nine will forever be one of the highlights of my career’
The 58-year-old Emmy winner – who played NYPD Commissioner Madeline Wuntch – also wrote: ‘Heartbroken to hear about the passing of the brilliant Andre Braugher. Sending love to all of his family and friends’
Josh Lucas (L) co-starred with Braugher in Wolfgang Petersen’s 2006 disaster film Poseidon, and wrote that he was ‘an actor and man I always deeply respect’
The Tonight Show bandleader Questlove called the Chicago native ‘one of my fave character actors’ and wrote: ‘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 (L) 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 Andre 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 Braugher – retweeted the tragic news and wrote: ‘This really shook me! RIP Andre!’
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!’
Chelsea Peretti shared a snap of Andre posing with a painted portrait of his Brooklyn Nine-Nine character Captain Raymond Holt and wrote that she ‘hates’ that she won’t see him again.
‘Love you. Will miss your dulcet tones. Forever lucky to have gone on such a journey with you. Ringside seat,’ the 45-year-old SAG Award nominee wrote.
‘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?’
Also from Brooklyn Nine-Nine was Terry Crews, who said Braugher ‘showed me what a life well lived looks like.’
‘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,’ the 55-year-old Daytime Emmy nominee – who played Terry Jeffords – wrote.
Chelsea Peretti shared a snap of the Kojak alum posing with a painted portrait of his Brooklyn Nine-Nine character Captain Raymond Holt and wrote that she ‘hates’ that she won’t see him again
Also from Brooklyn Nine-Nine was Terry Crews, who said Andre ‘showed me what a life well lived looks like’
Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum Joe Lo Truglio wrote about how Braugher would fly home every weekend to be with his family and how he used to ‘belt bassy vocals from his dressing room’ on lunch breaks
Between 2009-2011, the Homicide: Life on the Street alum 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’
The 53-year-old Emmy Hall of Fame winner (3-L, pictured April 14) executive produced Braugher’s (R) final acting project – Netflix’s upcoming eight-episode murder-mystery The Residence
It’s unclear when audiences will get to see The Good Fight actor’s (2-R, pictured on April 14) posthumous curtain call as A.B. Wynter in the White House who-done-it created by Paul William Davies, but it will probably premiere next year
Andre is survived by his wife of nearly 32 years Ami Brabson (R, pictured in 2022) and their three sons – Michael, 31; Isaiah, 27; and John, 20 – as well as his brother Charles Jennings and mother Sally Braugher
‘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.’
Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum Joe Lo Truglio wrote about how the Homicide: Life on the Street alum would fly home every weekend to be with his family and how he used to ‘belt bassy vocals from his dressing room’ on lunch breaks.
‘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,’ the 53-year-old comedian recalled.
‘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.’
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.’
Braugher 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.’
The 53-year-old Emmy Hall of Fame winner 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 who-done-it created by Paul William Davies, but it will probably premiere next year.
Braugher 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.
