Bobby J. Brown, the actor who played Officer Bobby Brown on the hit HBO series “The Wire” died tragically in a barn fire at the age of 62.
Brown’s daughter told TMZ the beloved actor died Tuesday of smoke inhalation after being trapped in the terrible blaze. She told the outlet she believes he died before he felt the pain of the severe burns he incurred in the horrific incident. The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said his cause of death was ruled diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation. They indicated the manner of his death was determined to be an accident.
🕊️ "The Wire" star Bobby J. Brown is dead at 62 after a barn fire. https://t.co/hHVNotH0Uz pic.twitter.com/7eY57vkHXt
— TMZ (@TMZ) February 26, 2026
TMZ reported that the fatal fire began when Brown entered the barn to jump-start a vehicle. The famous actor called a family member for a fire extinguisher a short time later, but by the time the family made their way to the barn to assist him, the barn was already fully engulfed in flames.
Brown’s wife suffered severe burns in her efforts to save him.
The actor’s daughter told TMZ her father was a devout Jehovah’s Witness, and the family is planning to honor him with an upcoming funeral.
His agent, Albert Bramante, issued a statement to the outlet saying “I am upset and saddened. He was such a good actor and person.”
Bobby J. Brown, Actor on ‘The Wire,’ Dies at 62 https://t.co/qsg3MIqtT1
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 26, 2026
Bramante continued, “He was totally dedicated to the craft of acting and was a joy to work with.”
Brown was a Washington, DC Native. He appeared in 12 of 60 episodes of “The Wire,” and had prominent roles in “Law & Order: SVU,” and “We Own This City.” He also appeared in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and “The Corner.” (RELATED: Authorities Sentence 33-Year-Old Domenick Chavez For Fatal Crash That Killed Lead Singer Of Dixie Chicks)
Brown directed two documentaries over the course of his career, “Off the Chain” – about American pit bull terries, and “Tear the Roof Off: The Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic.”
He is being remembered fondly across social media as friends and fans pay their final respects.
