James Ransone, US actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in The Wire, dies aged 46

ACTOR JAMES RANSONE, best known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka in the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, has died at the age of 46.

Officials confirmed his death over the weekend, which occurred in Los Angeles on Friday.

Ransone was a character actor whose performances often centred on damaged or conflicted figures, earning him a reputation for intensity and emotional depth.

A character actor who often played men with troubled pasts, Ransone was born in Baltimore, Maryland – the primary setting for “The Wire,” which followed police officers and the drug dealers they investigated during the early 2000s.

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He appeared in 12 episodes of The Wire’s second season, playing the volatile dock worker-turned-drug dealer Ziggy Sobotka, one of the most memorable characters of the show’s early years.

Following The Wire, Ransone went on to work repeatedly with the show’s creator David Simon, including a prominent role as Marine Corporal Josh Ray Person in the 2008 HBO miniseries Generation Kill, alongside Alexander Skarsgard.

He also appeared in a wide range of film and television projects, including It: Chapter Two, where he played the adult version of Eddie Kaspbrak, and the horror film The Black Phone.

His recent work included roles in the Peacock series Poker Face and the upcoming sequel Black Phone 2.

News of Ransone’s death prompted tributes from fellow actors and fans online, with many praising his ability to bring empathy and complexity to difficult characters.

With reporting from AFP

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