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Digital Phablet – James Ransone, renowned for his performances in The Wire, It: Chapter Two, and The Black Phone, passed away on December 19 at the age of 46.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Ransone died by suicide.
Born in Baltimore on June 2, 1979, Ransone attended the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology before studying for a year at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.
His first credited film or TV appearance was in 2001’s The American Astronaut. He gained notable recognition in 2003 with his role in The Wire, where he portrayed Chester “Ziggy” Sobotka in the show’s second season. This gritty series focused on street drug dealing and the Baltimore port.
Ransone also played Eddie Kaspbrak in the 2019 film It: Chapter Two, sharing the screen with actors like Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, and Bill Skarsgård. The story, set 27 years after the initial encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, sees the grown-up members of the Losers Club return after a disturbing phone call.
He starred as Max in The Black Phone, released in 2021, and its sequel, The Black Phone 2, released in 2025. Both films featured Mason Thames and Ethan Hawke. The plot involves a 13-year-old boy trapped in a soundproof basement with a masked killer who derives pleasure from inflicting pain. The boy soon discovers that answering a stolen phone allows him to hear the voices of previous victims.
Ransone’s other acting credits include Sean Baker’s 2015 hit Tangerine, where he played Chester, a questionable boyfriend and pimp to a transgender sex worker. He also appeared in numerous television series and films such as Poker Face, SEAL Team, Deadwax, The First, Mosaic, It Happened In L.A., Bosch, Sinister 2, Oldboy, Low Winter Sun, Empire State, Treme, How to Make It in America, Hawaii Five-0, Generation Kill, Law & Order, Nola, and Third Watch.
His contributions to horror and drama genres have left a significant mark, earning him admiration from fans and colleagues worldwide.
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