Celebrity4 min(s) read
The Wire and IT actor James Ransone's cause of death confirmed after he died at 46
Actor James Ransone, known for roles in The Wire and It: Chapter Two, died on December 19 at the age of 46. His cause of death was confirmed after a December 29 death certificate was viewed by Us Weekly on Wednesday, January 7, which listed suicide.
Records viewed by the outlet also confirmed that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death an apparent suicide.
Ransone is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children, Jack and Violet. McPhee, who wed Ransone in September 2017, shared a tribute on Instagram two days after his death, thanking him for giving her the “greatest gifts” of their children. The couple had recently celebrated their daughter’s 4th birthday in May 2025.
A GoFundMe page was later set up for Ransone’s family and has raised nearly $300,000. Ransone had also previously spoken publicly about his past, including being a victim of abuse and developing a heroin addiction earlier in life, and shared that he was $30K in debt by age 27 in a first person account published in 2009.
Jamie McPhee remembers her husband with emotional tributes
In her Instagram tribute, McPhee wrote, “I told you I have loved you 1000 times before and I know I will love you again.” She added, “You told me — I need to be more like you and you need to be more like me — and you were so right.”
In a separate post shared in May 2025 for their daughter’s birthday, McPhee wrote, “I am so happy that you and Jack and most of all Dad made me a mom.” She continued, “I wouldn’t change a thing about you even when you haul out a purse, a rainbow narwhal and a rolling pink suitcase to go to the store and then say hold on mommy I need to get my sunglasses. You’re perfect. Don’t ever change.”
Friends launch fundraiser to support Ransone’s family
The GoFundMe description opened with the words, “On Friday, December 19th, we lost James Ransone — beloved husband, father, and friend,” and noted, “James, who his friends called PJ, was funny, magnetic, brilliant, and endlessly alive. Above all else, he was an extraordinary father.”
It continued, “His wife, Jamie, known by her friends as Skipper, and their children, Jack and Violet, were the center of his world. They loved him infinitely, and he loved them just as fiercely in return. Their bond was deep, joyful, and unmistakable to anyone who witnessed it.”
The page also stated, “This fund has been created to support Jamie and the children as they navigate life after an unimaginable loss,” and added, “Its purpose is simple: to give Jamie the space to focus fully on Jack and Violet, to care for them, protect their sense of security, and ensure they have a bright future — even without James’s light present in their everyday lives.”
It concluded, “If you feel moved and are able to contribute, your support will go directly toward helping this family move forward with stability, care, and love. Thank you for holding Jamie, Jack, and Violet close in your hearts. Your generosity, kindness, and remembrance of James mean more than words can ever express.”
Ransone also detailed his struggles and recovery in a 2009 article for Malibu Magazine, writing, “I weighed 115 pounds, was about 30 grand in debt and had developed a pretty healthy heroin habit.”
He added, “There were a lot of things going on inside me that I hadn’t faced, or at the very least, refused to acknowledge for a long time. There were a lot of hard corners in me that needed to be softened. I had no idea what the results were going to be as far as taking some responsibility for my past, but the outcome has been pretty remarkable.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.