(Los Angeles, December 21, 2025) — James Ransone, best known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka in the acclaimed HBO series “The Wire,” has died by suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
The actor, 46, was found dead in Los Angeles on Friday, and his death was ruled a suicide by hanging, with the location listed as a shed, the Medical Examiner’s office stated.
- James Ransone, known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka in “The Wire,” died by suicide at age 46.
- The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death as hanging.
- Ransone publicly shared his experience as a survivor of sexual abuse in 2021.
- His wife, Jamie McPhee, has launched a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Ransone portrayed Frank Sobotka’s son, Ziggy, a Baltimore dock worker, in the second season of “The Wire,” appearing in 12 episodes in 2003. The critically acclaimed series, which aired from 2002 to 2008, starred Dominic West, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Idris Elba, among others.
Beyond “The Wire,” Ransone had a prolific career in television and film, with roles in “Generation Kill,” “Treme,” and “Bosch.” His most recent television appearance was in a Season 2 episode of “Poker Face,” which aired in June.
Ransone also starred in films including “Prom Night” (2008), “Sinister” (2012), “Sinister 2” (2015), “Tangerine” (2015), “Mr. Right” (2015), “It Chapter Two” (2019), “The Black Phone” (2021), and “Black Phone 2” (2025).
A Public Battle with Trauma
In May 2021, Ransone publicly came forward as a survivor of sexual abuse, accusing his former tutor, Timothy Rualo, of abuse that occurred over six months in 1992, when Ransone was 12 years old. He shared a detailed account of the abuse in a lengthy Instagram post addressed to his alleged abuser, recounting instances of physical and emotional trauma. According to Ransone, the abuse led to years of shame, addiction, and mental health struggles.
Ransone reported the allegations to Baltimore County police in March 2020, but a detective informed him in September of that year that prosecutors were not pursuing the case, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office ultimately did not file charges following the police investigation.
Ransone also spoke publicly about his struggles with addiction, revealing in a 2016 Interview Magazine story that he had been sober since 2006 after a five-year battle with heroin.
Following news of Ransone’s death, his wife, Jamie McPhee, posted a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on her social media profile.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
