James Ransone

"Ransone" redirects here. For the American politician, see Margaret Ransone. For the American scientist, see Margaret Ransone Murray.
Not to be confused with James Ransome.

James Ransone
Ransone as Ex-Deputy So-and-So in Sinister 2
Born
James Finley Ransone III

(1979-06-02)June 2, 1979
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedDecember 19, 2025(2025-12-19) (aged 46)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesPJ[1]
OccupationActor
Years active2001–2025
SpouseJamie McPhee
Children2

James Finley Ransone III (June 2, 1979 – December 19, 2025) was an American actor. Known for his roles in horror and drama, he played Ziggy Sobotka in the second season of the drama series The Wire, Cpl. Josh Ray Person in the war drama miniseries Generation Kill (2008), Deputy "So-and-So" in the supernatural horror films Sinister (2012) and Sinister 2 (2015), Chester in Tangerine (2015), adult Eddie Kaspbrak in It Chapter Two (2019), and Max in The Black Phone (2021).

Early life and education

James Finley Ransone III[2] was born on June 2, 1979, in Baltimore, Maryland,[3][4] the son of Joyce (née Peterson) and James Finley Ransone II, a Vietnam War veteran.[5] He was educated at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson, Maryland, and attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan for one year, before dropping out.[5] After working as a party photographer for Patrick McMullan, at age 19, for a brief period of time, he started working in art films.[3]

Career

In 2002, Ransone co-starred in the Larry Clark drama film Ken Park as Tate.[6] In 2003, he appeared in 12 episodes of The Wire, as Ziggy Sobotka. He had a supporting role in Spike Lee's 2006 heist movie Inside Man as bank robber, Steve-O. He starred in the 2008 miniseries Generation Kill as Cpl. Josh Ray Person. In 2010, he was cast in a recurring role in the HBO comedy series How to Make It in America, and the following year, appeared in a recurring role in the HBO drama series Treme.[7] In 2012, he starred in the drama film Starlet.[8] The following year, he starred in the AMC drama series Low Winter Sun as Damon Callis.[9]

Ransone then appeared in the 2012 horror film Sinister in the supporting role of Deputy So-and-So. In June 2014, he joined the cast of the Western film In a Valley of Violence.[10] Also in 2014, he starred in Small Engine Repair off-Broadway. In 2015, he had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film Tangerine.[11] Following the success of Sinister, Ransone reprised his role in the 2015 sequel Sinister 2, this time as the film's main character.[12] In 2016, he appeared in Season 2 of the drama series Bosch as Eddie Arceneaux.

In 2019, Ransone portrayed the adult Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror film It Chapter Two, sharing the role with Jack Dylan Grazer, who played the younger version.[13]

Personal life and death

By the age of 27, Ransone had developed a heroin addiction and a debt of $30,000, but became sober shortly after, several months before filming Generation Kill, as shared in a 2016 profile with the Interview Magazine.[3][14]

In May 2021, Ransone wrote on his Instagram account that he was sexually abused for around six months by his math tutor in 1992,[15] and that this was a factor in the alcohol and heroin addictions he later struggled with.[16] He further described how the abuse led to a "lifetime of shame and embarrassment". He reported his allegations to the Baltimore County police in March 2020, but they declined to pursue the charges after an investigation. The Baltimore County School System was informed of the allegations, according to police; school officials acknowledged having been notified of a "concern" but declined to specify what actions had been taken.[14][17]

Ransone was married to Jamie McPhee[18] and had two children.[19][17] On December 19, 2025, Ransone was found dead in a shed on his property, the Los Angeles Police Department investigators confirmed that no foul play was involved in his death, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Ransone died by suicide via hanging at the age of 46.[20][21][22]

Following his death, his wife shared a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness on social media. Newsweek honoured him as a "vocal advocate for sexual abuse survivors."[17]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001 The American Astronaut Bodysuit [23]
2002 Ken Park Tate [24]
2003 Fan Mail Ricky Short film
Nola Neo-Gothboy [23]
2004 A Dirty Shame Dave "Dingy Dave" [24]
Downtown: A Street Tale Billy [25]
Malachance Mika
2005 The Good Humor Man Junebug [25]
Granted! Larry Short film
2006 Inside Man Darius Peltz / Steve-O [24]
Directions: The Plans Video Album Segment: "What Sarah Said"
Puccini for Beginners Lone Guy at Bistro [25]
2008 Prom Night Detective Nash [24]
2009 The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll Chip Genson [25]
2010 The Next Three Days Harvey "Harv"
2011 The Lie Weasel [25]
The Son of No One Thomas Prudenti [25]
2012 Sinister Deputy So-and-So [24]
Starlet Mikey Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble Cast [24]
Red Hook Summer Kevin [24]
2013 Broken City Todd Lancaster [25]
Empire State Agent Nugent [23]
The Man Who Came Out Only at Night The man Short film
Oldboy Dr. Tom Melby [24]
Year of the Rat Guy Short film
2014 Electric Slide Jan Phillips [25]
False True Love Video short
This American Life: One Night Only at BAM David Video
Fruits De Mer George Short film
Cymbeline Philario [24]
Kristy Scott [25]
2015 Tangerine Chester [26]
The Timber Wyatt [25]
Bloomin Mud Shuffle Lonnie [25]
Sinister 2 Ex-Deputy So-and-So [23]
Mr. Right Von Cartigan [26]
Conventional Stu Mac 3 Short film
2016 In a Valley of Violence Deputy Gilly Martin [25]
Light Up the Night Joe Short film
2017 It Happened in L.A. Heath [23]
Gemini Stan [24]
The Clapper Darth Guy
Cabiria, Charity, Chastity Anthony, The Strongman Video short [25]
2018 Family Blood Christopher [25]
Write When You Get Work Steven Noble [27]
Doulo Edwin Short film [28]
Tough Love Man [28]
2019 Captive State Patrick Ellison [25]
It Chapter Two Eddie Kaspbrak Shared role with Jack Dylan Grazer [26]
2020 What We Found Steve Mohler [29]
2021 Small Engine Repair P.J. [30]
The Black Phone Max [26]
2023 V/H/S/85 Bobby Segment: "Dreamkill" [24]
2025 Black Phone 2 Max Cameo appearance [26]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Law & Order Mark Dale/Michael Wayland 2 episodes[23]
2002 Third Watch Frankie[25]
Ed Gary Morton Episode: "Power of the Person"[25]
2003 The Wire Ziggy Sobotka 12 episodes[26]
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Zack Capola Episode: "Iced"[24]
2006 Love Monkey Glenn Episode: "The Window"
2007 Jericho Daryl Episode: "A.K.A."
2008 Generation Kill Corporal Josh Ray Person Miniseries; 7 episodes[26]
2010 How to Make It in America Tim 7 episodes[23]
Burn Notice Dennis Wayne Barfield Episode: "Eyes Open"[24]
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Johnny D. / Perry Hutchinson Episode: "Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio"[24]
Treme Nick 10 episodes[26]
2013 Low Winter Sun Damon Callis Main cast[23]
2016 Bosch Eddie Arceneaux 8 episodes[26]
2018 Mosaic Michael O'Connor 6 episodes[23]
The First Nick Fletcher Main cast[23]
Deadwax Scotty Episode: "Part One"[23]
2020 50 States of Fright Sebastian Klepner 2 episodes[30]
SEAL Team Reiss Julian 5 episodes[23]
2025 Poker Face Juice Episode: "One Last Job"[26]

Theater

Year Title Role Venue Company Notes
2013 Small Engine Repair Packie Lucille Lortel Theatre MCC Theater [31]

References

  1. ^ "Cat Power pays emotional tribute to James 'PJ' Ransone: "The young man who taught me how to say I love you"". NME. December 23, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  2. ^ Alvarez, Rafael; Simon, David (2009). The Wire: Truth Be Told. Canongate Books. ISBN 978-1-84767-598-9.
  3. ^ a b c Sapienza, Ethan (October 19, 2016). "Baltimore's Son". Interview.
  4. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (December 24, 2025). "James Ransone obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Barshad, Amos (July 14, 2015). "From Ziggy to Stardust: How James Ransone Shed His Iconic 'Wire' Character and Broke Out". Grantland.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Todd (September 5, 2002). "Review: 'Ken Park'". Variety. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Kroll, Justin (November 17, 2010). "Ransone answers 'Treme's' siren call". Variety.
  8. ^ DeFore, John (March 17, 2012). "Starlet: SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 14, 2012). "Pilot Scoop: Jericho's Lennie James Joins AMC Drama Pilot Low Winter Sun". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  10. ^ Yamato, Jen (June 3, 2014). "James Ransone Joins Blumhouse Western 'In A Valley Of Violence'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Yamato, Jen (June 19, 2014). "'Starlet's Sean Baker Sets 'Tangerine' With The Duplass Brothers Exec Producing". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. ^ Yamato, Jen (August 13, 2014). "'Sinister 2' Sets Shannyn Sossamon & James Ransone As Leads". Deadline Hollywood.
  13. ^ Phillipp, Charlotte (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone, Actor Known for 'The Wire,' Dead by Suicide at 46". People. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  14. ^ a b DeVille, Taylor (May 27, 2021). "'The Wire' actor says a Baltimore County educator sexually abused him 29 years ago, and faults the school system's response to his allegations". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Ransone, James [@jamesransone]; (May 17, 2021). "as long as we are airing out dirty laundry (sorry I have to do this here)..." Retrieved August 28, 2021 – via Instagram.
  16. ^ Mclonsh, Steven (December 22, 2025). "The Wire actor James Ransone dies aged 46". BBC. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c Adeosun, Adeola (December 21, 2025). "'The Wire' Actor James Ransone Dies by Suicide at 46: What We Know". Newsweek. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  18. ^ "James Ransone's Wife Breaks Silence After Actor's Apparent Suicide". TMZ. December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  19. ^ Holaday, Carsen (December 21, 2025). "Actor who starred in hit TV series and horror films dead at age 46". The Independent. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  20. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone, US actor known for The Wire, dies aged 46". The Guardian. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  21. ^ Kaufman, Anna. "'The Wire' actor James Ransone's cause of death released". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  22. ^ Thakkar, Maitreyee (December 22, 2025). "How did James Ransone die and the issues the actor faced earlier in his career". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Thomas, Carly (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone, 'The Wire' and 'It: Chapter Two' Actor, Dies at 46". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Garner, Glenn (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone Dies: 'IT Chapter Two' & 'The Wire' Actor Was 46". Deadline. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "James Ransone: Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Todisco, Eric (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone, 'The Wire' actor, dead by suicide at 46". New York Post. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  27. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 8, 2018). "'Write When You Get Work' Clip: Emily Mortimer Cries Frantic Tears In Stacy Cochran SXSW Drama". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  28. ^ a b Seigh, Steve (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone: IT: Chapter Two & The Black Phone actor dies at 46". JoBlo. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  29. ^ Valentin, Mel (August 4, 2020). "Review: WHAT WE FOUND Gets Lost in Cliches and Predictability". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  30. ^ a b Dunn, Jack (December 21, 2025). "James Ransone, Who Played Ziggy Sobotka on 'The Wire,' Dies at 46". Variety. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  31. ^ Lang, Brent (December 21, 2025). "'Small Engine Repair' Star on the Dark Side of Social Media: 'It's Just Hate Everywhere'". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
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