Hollywood is mourning the lossofAndre Braugherfollowinghis death at age 61.
The actor, who starred on acclaimed crime series such asHomicide: Life on the StreetandBrooklyn Nine-Nine,died on Dec. 11after a recent illness, his representative confirmed to PEOPLE.
Braugher was married to actress Ami Brabson and together they had three children, John Wesley Braugher, Michael Braugher and Isaiah Braugher. Though his sons weren’t in the spotlight as much as Braugher, the actor spoke fondly of his family in interviews.
Speaking withVarietyin 2020, Braugher talked about how he always tried to put his wife and kids first amid his busy career. “I’ve got three boys, and I want them to know me as someone other than the guy who takes them to the circus every once in a while,” he told the publication. “I wanted to be there through the course of their life because I know how important fathers are.”
Here’s everything to know about Braugher’s wife and children.
He and Ami Brabson costarred onHomicide: Life on the Streettogether
Like Braugher, Brabson is in the entertainment industry, working as an actor, singer and producer,per her website. Over the years, she has appeared on a number of critically acclaimed series, includingHomicide: Life on the StreetandLaw & Order, among many others.
Braugher and Brabson were actually an onscreen couple onHomicide: Life on the Street, as Brabson played Mary Pembleton, wife to Braugher’s Detective Frank Pembleton.
He and Ami Brabson had been married for more than three decades
Ami Brabson and Andre Braugher.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
The couple tied the knot in 1991 and were together for more than three decades before Braugher’s death. Over the course of their relationship, the two made a number of appearances together, including the 1996 Emmy Awards, where Braugher was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role inHomicide: Life on the Street,and the 2014 Emmy Awards, where he was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his role inBrooklyn Nine-Nine.
Their last red carpet together was in November 2022 as they attended a screening ofThe Good Fightseries finale.
He and Ami Brabson have three children
Braugher and Brabson were proud parents of three sons, John Wesley Braugher, Michael Braugher and Isaiah Braugher. Though they stayed predominantly out of the spotlight, the trio clearly looked up to their father asVarietynoted in a previous profile that two of Braugher’s children were “aiming to enter acting as well.”
His son Michael is an actor, too
Braugher and Brabson’s son, Michael, followed in his father’s footsteps as he attended Braugher’s alma materJuilliard Schoolbefore embarking on an acting career. In addition tostarring in Broadway’sTo Kill a Mockingbird, he also appeared in a few episodes ofThe Gilded Age,per his IMDb page.
Andre Braugher and Ami Brabson.Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
He said his wife knew him better than anyone else
During an interview withVariety, Braugher spoke highly of his wife as he talked about their marriage and family life. “We’re like-minded; we grew up in similar neighborhoods; we share the same values,” he told the publication of Brabson.
He added, “She knows me like the back of her hand, and I’m grateful for that.”
He always prioritized spending time with his family
Amid his busy acting career, Braugher toldVarietyhe chose to make his family a priority early on. As his hit seriesBrooklyn Nine-Ninefilmed in Los Angeles, he told the publication he would fly home to New York every weekend to be with his sons.
“I made a choice along the way that Ami and those boys were too important to not spend quantity time with,” he told the publication. He also reflected on how his decision to stay home with his family might have limited some acting opportunities — but he didn’t regret it one bit.
“It’s been an interesting career, but I think it could have been larger,” he said. “I think it could have spanned more disciplines: directing, producing, all these other different things. But it would have been at the expense of my own life.”
Of being a stable force to his children, he added, “I’ve got three boys, and I want them to know me as someone other than the guy who takes them to the circus every once in a while. I wanted to be there through the course of their life because I know how important fathers are.”
source: people.com
