Born in Chicago in 1961, Braugher was interested in acting from a young age. He studied drama at Stanford University and then attended Juilliard, graduating in 1988. He quickly gained his first notable on-screen role, playing Thomas Searles in Glory (1989), about the first all-black regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War.
He was then cast as Winston Blake, a young police detective, in five Kojak TV movies (1989-90). This would mark Braugher's first appearance as a police officer. Also in 1990 he placed the titular character in TV movie The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson, marking his first lead role.
In 1993 Braugher was cast as Detective Frank Pembleton, a Baltimore police officer in Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-99). Based on David Simon's book Homicide: A Life on the Killing Streets (1991), the show depicts the difficulties experienced by a Baltimore police unit in bringing order to the streets. The show had an ensemble cast, but Braugher was almost immediately cited as the show's breakout star due to his intense and sometimes unpredictable performance, winning an Emmy Award and a further nomination (as well as crossing over to sister show Law and Order). Braugher left after the sixth season and did not return for the seventh and final year, but did return for Homicide: The Movie (2000), a TV movie which became the show's finale. Homicide: Life on the Street is today seen as the template and forerunner of Simon's HBO shows The Corner and The Wire.
Following the end of Homicide, Braugher picked up roles on TV shows including Gideon's Crossing, Hack, Men of a Certain Age and Last Resort, as well as films including Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Mist and Salt.
In 2013 Braugher was cast in the other major, defining role of his career. He was cast as Captain Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-21), a taciturn police chief who takes over a fictional Brooklyn police department inhabited by eccentric officers. His role on the show won him four additional Emmy Award nominations. Braugher's taciturn delivery and deadpan humour won him legions of new fans, as well as generating countless Internet memes.
Braugher passed away on 11 December from an undisclosed, short illness. He is survived by his wife and three children. He will absolutely be missed.
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