‘It: Chapter Two’ actor James Ransone dead at 46
Trigger warning: mentions of suicide, sexual abuse, substance addition
James Ransone, who is known for his roles in the horror sequel film “It: Chapter Two” and the crime drama series “The Wire,” has died at the age of 46, US media confirmed.
International outlets reported on Sunday, Dec. 21, citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner that Ransone died by suicide on Friday.
Ransone began his acting career in the early 2000s with roles in independent films such as “Ken Park” before rising to prominence as Chester “Ziggy” Sobotka in the second season of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama “The Wire.”
He later appeared as Cpl. Josh Ray Person in the HBO miniseries “Generation Kill” and took on memorable parts in shows such as “Bosch,” “SEAL Team,” and “Poker Face.”
Ransone’s film credits include “Sinister” (2012) and “Sinister 2” (2015), the acclaimed indie “Tangerine” (2015), and horror hits like “The Black Phone” (2021) and its follow-up “Black Phone 2” (2025). In 2019, he portrayed the adult Eddie Kaspbrak in “It: Chapter Two.”
In 2021, the late actor opened up about his experience with childhood sexual abuse in a lengthy Instagram post. He alleged that he was sexually abused by a former tutor in 1992 at his family’s home in Phoenix, Maryland.
He further addressed his alleged abuser, Timothy Rualo, saying this led to years of alcoholism and heroin addiction. He further told Rualo that the trauma fueled a “lifetime of shame and embarrassment.”
The actor is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children. /edv
