James Ransone Bio, Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth & Untold Facts

James Ransone was a magnetic, shape-shifting actor who rocketed from the Baltimore docks of HBO’s The Wire to blockbuster horror in Sinister and It Chapter Two. Whether playing Ziggy Sobotka’s reckless charm or Eddie Kaspbrak’s anxious heart, Ransone’s raw honesty made him a critics’ darling and a cult favorite. His sudden passing in December 2025 silenced one of the most candid voices in modern American film and television.

Quick bio

Early Life & Education

James Finley Ransone III was born and raised in working-class Baltimore County, Maryland. His father, James Jr., was a Vietnam veteran; his mother, Joyce, encouraged artistic exploration. Ransone gravitated toward performance at Towson’s George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology, switching from theater to fine-arts focus before spending a year at New York City’s School of Visual Arts. A childhood love of punk music later morphed into bass-guitar gigs with NYC metal band Early Man.

Career Journey

Breakthrough on The Wire (2003)

Cast as Ziggy Sobotka—the volatile, under-achieving dockworker’s son—Ransone stole scenes in Season 2 of HBO’s landmark drama, earning rave notices for channeling youthful frustration into unforgettable pathos.

Military Precision in Generation Kill (2008)

After conquering addiction, he deployed to Namibia to play real-life Marine Cpl. Josh Ray Person in the Emmy-winning miniseries, proving he could toggle between comedy and combat grit.

Horror Icon Status

• Sinister (2012) & Sinister 2 (2015) – fan-favorite “Deputy So-and-So”
• It Chapter Two (2019) – adult Eddie Kaspbrak, praised for balancing humor and trauma
• The Black Phone (2021) & Black Phone 2 (2025) – cemented his “scream-king” reputation

Indie Darlings

From Tangerine’s frenetic LA streets to Small Engine Repair’s blue-collar New England, Ransone collaborated with boundary-pushing directors (Sean Baker, John Pollono, Ti West), earning a 2012 Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award.

Final Bow

His last TV appearance—an episode of Peacock’s Poker Face (S2, June 2025)—reminded viewers of his quirky comedic timing.

Personal Life

Ransone married producer-writer Jamie McPhee; together they raised two children in Los Angeles. Open about recovery, he celebrated 19 years of sobriety after battling heroin addiction in his twenties. A passionate visual artist, he often sketched crew members between takes and auctioned paintings for charity. He was also a vocal survivor advocate, detailing childhood sexual abuse to destigmatize trauma.

Awards & Achievements

• Robert Altman Award, Independent Spirit Awards 2012 – Margin Call ensemble
• Ensemble of the Year, Hollywood Film Awards 2012 – Sinister
• Critical praise for Generation Kill, It Chapter Two, Tangerine
• 19 years sober – publicly celebrated milestone in addiction-recovery community

Physical Statistics

Memorable Quotes

1. “People think I got sober working on Generation Kill. I didn’t. I sobered up six months before—because I finally wanted to live.”
2. “Fatherhood cracked me wide open. It made me see myself with a level of honesty I’d been avoiding.”
3. “Music is the most powerful tool a filmmaker has—it’s the cheat code to emotion.”

Controversies

Ransone’s frankness sometimes rattled Hollywood. In 2021 he posted an open letter accusing a childhood tutor of sexual abuse; Baltimore prosecutors ultimately declined charges, but the post sparked wider #MeToo conversations. He also openly critiqued studio salary disparities, once claiming, “I’m one of the few middle-class actors out there—Hollywood’s microcosm mirrors international finance.”

Salary & Net Worth

Industry insiders estimate Ransone earned $80–120 K per episode for prestige-cable roles and $250–400 K per studio horror film. Combined with residuals, art sales and SAG pensions, his estate is valued at $1.5 – $2 million at the time of his passing.

Interesting Facts

• Played bass on NYC’s punk circuit; appears passed-out on Saves The Day’s album cover Through Being Cool.
• Once chased a neighbor’s attacker down the street wielding a metal pipe, earning local-hero headlines.
• Auditioned for Generation Kill while still paying off $30 K in drug debts; booked the job 48 hours later.
• Sketched storyboards for Sinister 2 directors because he “wanted to understand camera language.”
• Could paint with both hands—ambidextrous artist.

Social Media Links

• Instagram: @pjrzone – 42 K followers
• Twitter/X: @pjrzone – 18 K followers
• Official Site: pjransone.com (archived)
• IMDb: nm0710447
• Wikipedia: James_Ransone

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How did James Ransone die?
A: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging on December 19, 2025.

Q2: Was James Ransone really in a band?
A: Yes—he was the original bassist for New York metal outfit Early Man and gigged around Manhattan’s punk scene.

Q3: Which role made him famous?
A: Most fans first noticed him as Ziggy Sobotka in HBO’s The Wire Season 2 (2003).

Q4: Did he do his own stunts in horror films?
A: He performed most physical gags himself, citing “If I’m going to scream, the pain better be real.”

Q5: How long was he sober?
A: 19 years—he got clean at age 27, six months before shipping out to film Generation Kill.

Q6: Will Black Phone 2 still be released?
A: Yes—Universal has confirmed the 2025 sequel will be dedicated to his memory.

Conclusion

James Ransone’s fearless honesty—on screen and off—turned personal struggle into compelling art. From Baltimore docks to Derry’s sewers, he reminded us that vulnerability is a superpower. If this article helped you appreciate his journey, please share it with fellow fans and keep the conversation about mental health alive.