James Ransone, a well-known character actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in HBO’s “The Wire” and adult Eddie Kaspbrak in “It: Chapter Two,” died at the age of 46 in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Ransone killed himself on Friday, December 19, 2025, and said that he did so by hanging.
Ransone became famous for his intense, unpredictable performance as troubled dockworker Ziggy Sobotka in season two of HBO’s groundbreaking crime drama “The Wire.” He went on to star in HBO’s “Generation Kill,” the horror series “Sinister” and its sequel, and later became well-known as adult Eddie in “It: Chapter Two.” He has also worked on “Prom Night,” “Tangerine,” “Mr. Right,” “The Black Phone,” and the upcoming sequel “The Black Phone 2.”
James Ransone was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 2, 1979. He then studied theater to improve his skills before making the jump to TV and movies. Before he got his big breaks, he spent years playing smaller roles and making music, slowly building a reputation as a dependable and interesting character actor.
Ransone had talked about how he survived abuse, fought addiction, and paid off a lot of debt in the past. Even though he had problems, he kept working in Hollywood, often getting roles in gritty dramas and horror movies that showed off his intensity and range of emotions.
Fans and coworkers have been posting about Ransone on social media, remembering him as a brave actor who always showed his raw vulnerability in every role. People think that his work in “The Wire,” “It: Chapter Two,” “Sinister,” and “The Black Phone” is some of the best he’s ever done and will continue to be popular.
