'The Wire' Alum Bobby J. Brown Has Died at the Age of 62
"He was totally dedicated to the craft of acting and was a joy to work with."
Published Feb. 27 2026, 10:33 a.m. ET
The cast, crew, and fans of The Wire are currently grieving. Bobby J. Brown, the actor who portrayed Office Bobby Brown in the HBO hit series, has reportedly died.
The star was only 62.
Bobby, who was beloved in the industry for his work as an actor, director, and writer, had his death announced by his daughter, via TMZ, on Feb. 26, 2026.
As the news of Bobby’s passing makes its rounds, fans are shocked. The actor was quite young, and with no reports of pre-existing illnesses, many are wondering about what happened. So, what was Bobby J. Brown’s cause of death? Here’s everything that we know.
What was Bobby J. Brown’s cause of death?
According to TMZ, Bobby died of smoke inhalation after being caught in a barn fire. The outlet learned the news from Bobby’s daughter.
Apparently, Bobby went into the barn to jumpstart a vehicle when a fire broke out. Moments later, Bobby called out to family members for a fire extinguisher. Unfortunately, by the time family members intervened to put out the fire, the actor was engulfed in flames.
The outlet shares that the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also confirmed the news, citing that the official manner of death was being ruled an accident. As for the cause of death, it was ruled to be diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation.
Additionally, Bobby’s wife reportedly suffered burns from trying to save him.
At this time, there is no set date for Bobby J. Brown’s funeral.
While speaking with TMZ, Bobby’s daughter shared that the actor was “a devout Jehovah’s Witness.” She also mentioned that the family is currently planning funeral services. However, it appears that the information will likely be kept only within the family and close friends.
"I am upset and saddened,” Albert Bramante, Bobby’s agent, told the outlet. “He was such a good actor and person. He was totally dedicated to the craft of acting and was a joy to work with."
Naturally, the world is stunned by the news of Bobby’s death. Many fans have already taken to social media to share tributes to the star.
Folks will remember Bobby as a multi-hyphenate in the entertainment industry. Aside from his exemplary performance in The Wire, Bobby had over 20 credits as an actor. Over the years, he landed roles in films and TV shows such as 1998’s Pecker, 2008’s From Within, 2022’s Off-Time, and many more.
In fact, his last project, The Sessions, a TV mini-series pilot, was recently completed. However, there’s no information on when the series will be released.
We’d like to give our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Bobby J. Brown.