Bobby J. Brown, best known for his role as an officer on the acclaimed HBO drama The Wire, died February 24th in a tragic barn fire at his home in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. He was 62 years old.
According to authorities and a statement from his daughter, Reina Samara Brown, the actor was attempting to jumpstart a car inside a barn on his property around 10 p.m. When a fire ignited. Brown reportedly asked his wife to bring a fire extinguisher.
By the time his wife returned with the extinguisher, the blaze had rapidly spread throughout the barn. She sustained burns to her hands while trying to reach him, the Maryland state fire marshal’s office said in a statement. Firefighters were summoned to the scene and discovered Brown inside the burning barn, where he was pronounced dead.
The state chief medical examiner’s office determined Brown’s death was caused by diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation, ruling it an accident, People reported.
Reina Samara Brown shared a heartfelt statement online, calling the loss of her father “devastating.”
“It hurts in a way that sits heavy in my chest and does not move,” she wrote. “I would give anything to hear his voice again, to see him one more time, and to have one more conversation. The suddenness of it is overwhelming. One ordinary evening can become the last moment you ever get.”
She implored others to cherish their time with their parents, urging them to “sit with” them and “ask the extra question” about their well-being, no matter how busy life gets. “Stay a little longer,” she wrote. “Our schedules feel so important until something like this happens and you realize what actually matters.”
Brown began his acting career with appearances in television shows like Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, according to his IMDb page. He was also a champion amateur boxer before transitioning to acting.
He gained widespread recognition for his role as an officer in 12 episodes of The Wire, which aired from 2002 to 2008. The series, known for its realistic portrayal of urban life, remains a landmark achievement in television drama.
More recently, Brown appeared in the 2022 HBO miniseries We Own This City, starring Jon Bernthal.
Brown’s death marks the third loss for the cast of The Wire since December. James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sobotka, died by suicide on December 19th, and Isiah Whitlock Jr., known for his portrayal of Clay Davis, passed away January 11th.
Other The Wire alumni who have died previously include Michael Kenneth Williams, Lance Reddick, and Reg E Cathey.
