The cause of death of Bobby J. Brown, who played a Baltimore city police officer in the hit HBO series “The Wire,” has been revealed months after he died in a barn fire in Chaptico, Maryland, in February.
Brown’s cause of death was ruled diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation. His manner of death was determined to be accidental, according to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Brown, 62, appeared in two Emmy Award-winning HBO series, “The Corner” and “The Wire.” He played Officer Bobby Brown in 12 episodes of “The Wire,” appearing in all but the show’s second season across its five-season run, including the season five finale, “-30-.”
He also played a police officer in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and the 2008 film “From Within.” He also directed films such as “Tear the Roof Off” and “Off the Chain.”
Brown began his professional career as a boxer, competing in casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to IMDb. He later developed an interest in acting when Mickey Rourke — himself a former boxer — was filming “Homeboy” in the area. His boxing career yielded five Golden Gloves championships.
Albert Bramante, CEO of the talent agency that represented Brown, had described him in a statement at the time of his death as “a formidable talent and a man of great integrity.”
