From limited opportunities to ‘Men of a Certain Age’: Ray Romano's role in Andre Braugher's acting journey

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The entertainment industry is grieving over the loss of Andre Braugher, a celebrated actor recognized for his roles as Captain Raymond Holt in the hit comedy 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and Detective Frank Pembleton in 'Homicide: Life on the Street'.

Braugher, who reportedly died at 61 following a short illness, was famous for his resonant voice and captivating performances.

His portrayal of the determined and somewhat haughty Detective Frank Pembleton won him an Emmy in 1998.

Despite his achievements, Braugher's path in the acting realm was reportedly filled with obstacles. It was his determination, coupled with the influence of comedian Ray Romano, that reportedly helped him carve out his niche.

Ray Romano's role in Andre Braugher's acting journey

Ray Romano reportedly had a crucial role in Andre Braugher's career, casting him in the comedy show 'Men of a Certain Age', a shift from the late icon's typical dramatic roles.

This marked a considerable progression in Braugher's acting career, showcasing his adaptability and talent from a fresh perspective.

In a comprehensive interview with Variety, Braugher opened up about his struggles in securing roles and the disappointment stemming from the limited opportunities available.

"I've been very fortunate in that I've been able to book these jobs, but it's not as though I had a lot of auditions. It's not as though there's been a platter laid out for me to feast at in terms of roles," Braugher stated.

Fortuitously, Romano was in search of a third lead for his new comedy show titled 'Men of a Certain Age', which was from Braugher's typical dramatic roles.

Romano, along with co-creator Mike Royce, presented the project to Braugher, who accepted it, marking a significant stride in carving out his acting niche.

Braugher reportedly proved to be an excellent choice for 'Men of a Certain Age'.

Despite the casting being somewhat of a risk, Romano was confident that it was a gamble that yielded positive results.

Ray Romano's gamble paid off

In the brief run of 'Men of a Certain Age', spanning from 2009 to 2011 over two seasons and 22 episodes, Andre Braugher took on the role of Owen Thoreau Jr.

He portrayed a family-oriented character who is employed at his father, Owen Thoreau Sr's (played by Richard Gant), car dealership and maintains friendships with Joe Tranelli (Ray Romano) and Terry Elliott (Scott Bakula).

Even though Braugher wasn't typically recognized for his comedic roles, he reportedly excelled in portraying Owen Jr, which is why Romano was delighted he seized the opportunity to cast him when the series was in its early stages.

"We Googled 'Andre Braugher comedy', and Google said, 'You win ­— we have nothing,'" Romano joked.

"We really couldn't find anything [in his credits]. We just thought, you know what, this comedy is going to come from a real place. The best actor in the room is who we want. It was a little bit of a gamble, but then he blew it out of the park," Romano once said.

Braugher, on his part, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with Romano.

"Both as a writer and as a performer, I found him to be just a wellspring of knowledge. He's aces, period," he stated.