Getty ImagesThe cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine have paid tribute to their co-star Andre Braugher, who has died aged 61.
Remembering his “wisdom, kindness and friendship,” the stars also shared stories – like how he enjoyed “crooning at full volume” in his dressing room.
Well-known for his role as Cpt Raymond Holt, Braugher was remembered for his kindness by actor Terry Crews.
Melissa Fumero, who played Detective Amy Santiago, said she would miss his advice and laughter.
“Your laugh was one of the all time greatest laughs to have ever existed,” she wrote on Instagram.
Fumero shared a photo of them on a beach in Malibu, which she said was “our first of many deep conversations” – until an unexpected wave crashed over them.
Her character, Santiago, desperately aspired to follow in Cpt Holt’s footsteps, and she jumped through hoops and hurdles to impress him.
Stephanie Beatriz, who played the tough, axe-wielding Detective Rosa Diaz, posted a poignant scene where Captain Holt, a gay man, thanks Rosa for her bravery in coming out as bisexual. It was one of several moments throughout the eight seasons when the fast-paced comedy slowed, to take on serious issues including homophobia and racism.
Getty ImagesChelsea Peretti, who played Gina Linetti in the show, said she felt “forever lucky to have gone on such a journey” with Braugher – “ringside seat”.
As Cpt Holt’s lazy but quick-witted assistant, Gina was uninterested in the day-to-day running of the fictional police department. But with celebrity-level confidence and “Gina knows best” attitude, she soon proved to be a valuable asset – and friend – to the squad.
“Is it weird that I am also grieving for what Cpt Holt meant to Gina?” Peretti asked in her tribute.
Both Peretti and Fumero said they thought they would see their co-star again. “Hate that I won’t,” Peretti wrote.
Andre Braugher died following a brief illness, his publicist Jennifer Allen told the PA news agency. Further details have not been made public.
‘A life well lived’
Terry Crews, one of the show’s biggest names, played the gym and yoghurt-loving Terry Jeffords.
“This hurts. You left us too soon. You taught me so much… Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness and your friendship,” he wrote on Instagram.
“You showed me what a life well lived looks like … I love you, man.”
Joe Lo Truglio, who played hopeless romantic Charles Boyle, said “many wonderful stories will be told about Andre”.
In a behind-the-scenes anecdote, he said Braugher made sure to travel home to see his wife and three sons every weekend.
Getty Images“He was committed and passionate about the things he loved. And that voice. It laid anchor to the roughest of dialogue,” Lo Truglio wrote.
“What you probably don’t know is that Andre could sing too, and did often at lunch, belting bassy vocals from his dressing room to whatever new music he found,” he said, admitting that at first, it was odd.
“But then very quickly it made all the sense in the world, because the man was so full of song and that’s why the world took notice,” he added.
‘My Captain’
Perhaps one of the most touching tributes was also the shortest.
Marc Evan Jackson, who played Braugher’s on-screen husband in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, simply wrote “O Captain. My Captain.”
Writing on X, he shared a picture of the pair hugging and, wearing their wedding rings.
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Dirk Blocker, who played Michael Hitchcock, said he was “devastated”.
“Fiercely intelligent, remarkably kind, supportive, generous and possessed a deep and extraordinary talent, and had even more to offer,” he wrote.