Andre Braugher, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ actor, dies at 61

MONDAY AFTER WHAT’S DESCRIBED AS A BRIEF ILLNESS. HE WAS JUST 61 YEARS OLD. WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT HIS LIFE AND CAREER. THIS MORNING HOLLYWOOD PAYING TRIBUTE TO ANDRE BRAUGHER, THE STAR WHO GAINED RECOGNITION FOR HIS UNFORGETTABLE TURN IN “HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET” AND “BROOKLYN 99.” ANDRE BRAUGHER PLAYED BELOVED POLICE CAPTAIN, A STRAIGHT LACED COP KNOWN FOR HIS DEAD PAN ONE-LINERS. >> I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD OF YOU FOR ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. >> I MEAN, I SOLVED A LOT OF CASES. >> AND YET CRIME HAS CONTINUED. >> HIS COSTARS REACTING TO

THE NEWS. TERRY CRUZ CALLING HIS TALENT IRREPLACEABLE WRITING ON INSTAGRAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM, YOUR ADVICE, YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP. YOU SHOWED ME WHAT A LIFE WELL-LIVED LOOKS LIKE. MARK SHARING A PHOTO OF THEM SIMPLY WRITING, OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN. BEST KNOWN FOR HIS DRAMATIC ROLES REFLECTED ON PLAYING IT FOR LAUGHS HERE ON “TODAY” BACK IN 2019. >> YOU PLAY THE ULTIMATE STRAIGHT MAN ON THE SHOW, RARELY CRACKING A SHOW. IS THAT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE? >> I DON’T THINK SO. I’M A SERIOUS DUDE DEPENDING ON

WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. I FEEL LIKE ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE COMEDIANS ARE THE KITES AND I’M THE STRING. >> Reporter: ANDRE BRAUGHER GOT HIS BREAK IN “GLORY” ALONGSIDE FELLOW NEWCOMER

DENZEL WASHINGTON. HE WENT ON TO PLAY HIS MOST FAMOUS ROLE, THE TOUGH AS NAILS INTERROGATOR IN THE ’90s POLICE DRAMA “HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET”. >> DON’T LIE TO ME AGAIN. THIS IS WHAT YOU DID. >> Reporter: A PERFORMANCE THAT WON HIM CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND AN EMMY IN 1998. >> AND THIS IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN BALTIMORE. THIS IS A TOWN I LOVE. WE FINALLY

MADE IT. THANK YOU ALL. >> Reporter: HE WENT ON TO ROLES IN TELEVISION, INCLUDING “MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE” AND “THE GOOD FIGHT.” ANDRE BRAUGHER MET HIS WIFE ON THE SET OF “HOMICIDE.” THE COUPLE WERE MARRIED FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND HAD THREE SONS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH “VARIETY” IN 2020 SAYING I THINK I COULD HAVE SPAMMED MORE DISCIPLINES. BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE EXPENSE OF MY OWN LIFE. PRIOR TO HIS DEATH, ANDRE BRAUGHER WAS CAST IN A NEW NETFLIX DRAMA ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE. A TRUE ACTOR’S ACTOR IN THE INDUSTRY, STILL

HARD AT WORK. >> IF YOU WATCHED HIM, THE INTENSITY, I GOT TO INTERVIEW HIM EARLY ON IN “HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET,” AND ALL THE ACTORS SEEMED TO REVOLVE AROUND HIM. YOU COULD SEE HIS RANGE IN SOMETHING LIKE “BROOKLYN 99”. >> HOW ABOUT THAT INTERVIEW HE DID TO TALK ABOUT HOW HIS FAMILY WAS GOING TO BE HIS PRIORITY? >> FIRST OF ALL, HE WAS SUCH A FAMILY MAN, AND THE FACT HE HAD THIS CAREER FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. HE STUDIED AT JULIARD. HE WAS INCREDIBLE ON SCREEN. AND I JUST LOVE THAT INTERVIEW.

AND JENNA BUSH HAGER IS IN IT AS WELL, AND SHE’S LIKE, I’M GOING TO MAKE YOU LAUGH. HE’S LIKE, LISTEN, I ONLY BREAK