Entertainment

Actor James Ransone, star of “It,” “Sinister” and “The Wire,” dies at 46

Published on

December 21, 2025

Credit: HBO

Actor James Ransone, known for his roles in It, Sinister, and The Wire, has died at the age of 46, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The medical examiner said Ransone died on Friday, ruling his death as a suicide. The agency listed the cause of death as hanging and said he was found in a shed.

Ransone was an American actor known for his work in film and television. He appeared in a wide range of roles across independent films and major studio projects and was recognized for portraying complex and often troubled characters.

He was best known for his performances in the HBO television series The Wire, where he played Ziggy Sobotka, and in the film adaptations of Stephen King’s It, in which he portrayed Eddie Kaspbrak as an adult. His film credits also included Sinister, Tangerine, Generation Kill, and Inside Man.

Ransone was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1979, and began his acting career in the late 1990s. Over more than two decades, he built a reputation as a versatile character actor in both television and film.

“We are saddened by the passing of James Ransone,” Blumhouse said in a social media post. “We are grateful to have worked with him on The Black Phone and Sinister. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”

No additional details surrounding his death were released by authorities. Ransone is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, as well as the couple’s two children.