Andre Braugher is an American television actor who shot to fame after portraying Detective Frank Pembleton in the drama series “Homicide: Life on the Street”. He was born on July 1, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois, and was the youngest of four children. Even at a young age, Braugher knew that his calling was in acting. In 1984, he majored in theater while at Stanford University and studied in the drama division at Juilliard.
View this post on Instagram
Braugher started out with minor roles in film and television before landing the role of Frank Pembleton in “Homicide: Life on the Street”. The series ran for seven seasons and his performance gave him a Primetime Emmy Award for Oustanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1998. During the mid-2000s, Braugher joined the cast of “Men of a Certain Age” where his character, Owen Thoreau Jr., earned him two additional Emmy nominations.
The actor’s most famous role is perhaps his portrayal of Captain Raymond Holt on NBC’s award-winning sitcom, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”. Throughout the show’s entire run, Braugher was nominated for four more Emmy Awards, bringing his total to 11 nominations. Aside from his television work, the actor also dabbled in film from time to time. Some of his highly-acclaimed works include “Primal Fear” (1996), “The Mist” (2007), and “Salt” (2010).
Although Braugher was already a veteran in Hollywood, he experienced a resurgence in fame during his time on the NBC sitcom. His unexpected renaissance led to increasing queries about the actor’s personal life and relationships. Braugher’s portrayal of the straight-faced captain also made fans wonder if he was actually gay in real life. So, is Andre Braugher gay? Let’s settle the score below.
VOTE: What is Andre Braugher’s Sexuality?
Andre Braugher’s Relationships
When it comes to his personal history, Andre Braugher is impressively private. The actor has only been in one public relationship his entire life: his current wife, Ami Brabson. It’s believed that the couple first met in 1989 before they co-starred in “Homicide”. As fate would have it, Brabson played his on-screen wife, Mary Pembleton.
Their reel romance quickly spilled into real life and the couple tied the knot in 1991. A year after their private wedding, they welcomed their first child, Michael Braugher. The pair went on to have two more children, Isaiah and John, in 1996 and 2003 respectively.
Braugher and Brabson are still together and are celebrating their 32nd anniversary in 2023.
View this post on Instagram
Andre Braugher on Playing Gay Characters
Questions surrounding Braugher’s sexuality arose during his portrayal of Captain Raymond Holt in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”. Captain Holt is an openly gay married police officer known for his no-nonsense attitude and monotonous delivery. The character was a refreshing take compared to the typical gay caricatures seen on screen. Fans also pointed out the irony of Braugher playing the archetype of a gay “straight man.”
In a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post, the actor emphasized his efforts to portray Captain Holt in a unique yet respectable way. He believed that taking this direction would make his character feel more organic, relatable, and normal.
I think it’s wonderful that it’s part of a complex person, as opposed to the defining characteristic, because when it is the defining characteristic it’s always gonna bump up, inevitably, against good taste and wind up creating an offensive stereotype.”
Andre Braugher to The Huffington Post, 2013
Is Andre Braugher Gay?
No, Andre Braugher is not gay. The actor is famous for playing a gay police officer, Captain Raymond Holt, on the hit sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, Braugher is not gay in real life. In fact, he’s married to long-time partner, Ami Brabson, with whom he has three children.