Andre Braugher Intentionally Kept His Family From The Public Eye Before His Death

Highlights

• Andre Braugher prioritized his family over his career, keeping his family life away from the media’s attention.
• Braugher’s wife, Ami Brabson, played a significant role in his career decisions.
• Braugher’s sons chose paths away from the public eye.

Just as Paul McCartney once broke down discussing the death of John Lennon, the Decmeber 2023 passing of the beloved Brooklyn Nine-Nine character, Andre Braugher, left his colleagues in mourning. The void created by the loss of his exceptional talent and affable demeanor is reminiscent of Matthew Perry’s untimely passing in October 2023.

As Braugher’s co-stars and friends share memories they had with the actor, many are emphasizing Braugher’s profound love for his family. He left behind his wife, actress Ami Brabson, and their three sons: Michael, Isaiah, and John. Unlike Paul Newman’s children, who vanished from the spotlight after his death, Braugher purposely kept his family life away from the media’s attention.

An article published by Rolling Stone described Andre Braugher’s meticulous approach to balancing his personal and professional responsibilities. His colleagues would later share stories of Braugher’s remarkable efficiency in reaching the airport during production break just to be with his family.

Braugher emphasized in the publication the importance of raising their children in a genuine context:

“… people forget where they came from and what made them, and the context in which they lived… And for those things that I’ve done which are worthy of admiration or acclaim, I put them in the proper perspective. Being a husband and a father are, in my mind, greater accomplishments than what I play on television.”

List of Awards Received by Andre Braugher:

• Viewers for Quality Television – Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1995)
• NAACP Image Awards – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1997, 1998, 2003)
• Satellite Awards – Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1997)
• Television Critics Association Awards – Individual Achievement in Drama (1997, 1998)
• Primetime Emmy Awards – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1998)
• Primetime Emmy Awards – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (2006)
• Critics’ Choice Television Awards – Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2014)

During a 2020 interview with Gold Derby, Braugher was asked about the size of his ambition at present. Braugher admitted that he is no longer fixated on being a movie star, rather, his priorities shifted towards being a good husband and father.

“… I’ve had a really terrific career, and I’ve gotten a chance to work with some fascinating people on material that I’m really proud of. So where my ambitions will take me next, I have no idea. I’m hunting for, interested in finding the next sort of compelling character. I don’t know in what way that’s going to appear…”

Did Andre Braugher And Ami Brabson’s Acting Careers Get In The Way Of Their Private Family Life?

Andre Braugher often portrayed powerful characters full of wisdom. Throughout his successful acting career, Braugher’s wife, Ami Brabson, served as his confidant and illuminated the complicated Hollywood life with him.

The major decisions in Braugher’s life, such as his Broadway debut, were consistently shaped by the guidance and encouragement of his wife.

Braugher and Brabson met at Juilliard and worked on projects like Tough Titty and NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street. They exchanged vows in 1991 and were blessed with three children in the span of a decades-long marriage alongside their respective careers.

In a 2020 interview with Variety, Braugher spoke about his deep connection with Brabson,

“We’re like-minded; we grew up in similar neighborhoods; we share the same values. She knows me like the back of her hand, and I’m grateful for that.”

While Braugher may have carried a more extensive on-screen portfolio, Brabson, with her MFA from NYU/Tisch Graduate School of Acting, is a force to be reckoned with. She is known for her versatility as a cabaret singer, producer, and stage actress. Brabson also boasts an impressive acting career. She appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Fences.

Braugher told The Washington Post about the enjoyment he feels when working with Brabson. He revealed that their teamwork on screen was seamless due to their shared history, mutual understanding, and similar artistic sensibilities.

Did Andre Braugher’s Sons Resent His Hollywood Fame?

Andre Braugher and Ami Brabson raised their three sons, Michael, Isaiah, and John, while working in the spotlight. Despite their extensive acting career, they did not force upon their children the same path that they chose.

Their sons have chosen a path away from the public eye and have not given any interviews regarding their father’s fame. Michael Braugher was the only one among his brothers who ventured into acting after graduating from Juilliard and earning recognition with the John Houseman Award for Excellence in Classical Theater.

According to Variety, Braugher prioritized his family life. He would fly from Los Angeles to New York during the filming of Brooklyn Nine-Nine to spend quality time with his sons. Despite his accomplished career and the potential for even greater success, Braugher mentioned the sacrifices required for a more expansive professional life.

“The focus on celebrity-ness — it’s not real. So I just chose, in my own way, to sort of drop out… It’s been an interesting career, but I think it could have been larger. I think it could have spanned more disciplines: directing, producing, all these other different things. But it would have been at the expense of my own life.”

Braugher revealed that the motivation behind his choice not to pursue these opportunities was driven by his profound understanding of the importance of fatherhood. He wanted his sons to know him as more than just a fleeting presence in their lives, someone beyond the occasional trip to the circus.

Variety previously reported that two out of Braugher’s three sons expressed an interest in pursuing acting, suggesting the possibility that one of them may be contemplating joining the family profession alongside their elder brother, Michael.

Source: NewsFinale