Andre Braugher cause of death

At the age of 61, Andre Braugher, who played Detective Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street and Captain Raymond Holt in the popular comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, passed away.

Following a brief illness, the actor passed away on Monday, according to his publicist.

Braugher gained popularity on the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street, which aired from 1992 to 1998, and is instantly recognizable for his deep voice. In 1998, he was honored with an Emmy for his portrayal of the stubborn and conceited Detective Frank Pembleton.

However, his most well-known role was playing the witty Captain Raymond Holt in the popular comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, where he costarred with Andy Samberg for eight seasons. For best supporting actor in a comedy series, he was honored with two Critics Choice Awards. 

He acted in several television movies in the years that followed, including revivals of the venerable crime drama Kojak, until he made his breakthrough in the highly regarded police drama Homicide: Life on the Street.

Detective Pembleton, played by Braugher, was referred to as "the smartest, sharpest master of the art of interrogation" in a 2010 Guardian article. In 1998, his final year on the show, he received an Emmy nomination after being shortlisted twice.

For the 2006 miniseries Thief, in which he played the leader of a heist that balanced a risky operation with personal struggles, Braugher was awarded his second Emmy.

He received eleven Emmy nominations in the course of his three-decade career and frequently starred in roles involving the military and police, such as

After playing these roles for so many years, he said, "I look up and I say to myself, it's been so pervasive that I've been inside this storytelling, and I, too, have fallen prey to the mythology."

"To quote, 'defend the law,' cops breaking the law is a real terrible slippery slope. It has justified and excused lawbreaking worldwide, giving it permission to occur. We will all need to work together to address that, police shows included.

Social media was used by numerous former co-stars and creatives who collaborated with Braugher to post tributes.

Terry Crews, Braugher's co-star on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, wrote on Instagram: "I'm honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching."