James Ransone's Widow Criticizes Emmys for Snubbing 'The Wire' Actor
Jamie McPhee expresses disappointment that her late husband was not included in the In Memoriam segment.
James Ransome’s widow, Jamie McPhee, has publicly voiced her disappointment with the Television Academy for omitting the late actor from the In Memoriam segment at this year's Emmy Awards.
"My husband @jamesransone was not acknowledged in memoriam at tonight’s Emmys," McPhee wrote on her Instagram Stories. "He was also not at the Oscars earlier this year."
She described Ransome as "impossible, lovable, intolerable and incredible" but "without question — a great actor." McPhee added that her husband, whom she referred to as PJ, "wouldn’t care" about the snub and "would actually think it’s funny."
In a subsequent post, McPhee stated, "I am incredibly disappointed @televisionacad. @Jamesransone was an incredibly gifted actor and it simply is not right to not acknowledge him and his work."
Ransome, who died by suicide in December 2025 at the age of 46, was known for his role as Baltimore dock worker Ziggy Sobotka, the son of Frank Sobotka, in the second season of HBO's acclaimed series "The Wire." He appeared in 12 episodes of the show in 2003.
His television credits also include "Generation Kill," "Treme," and "Bosch." Ransome's final television appearance was in an episode of "Poker Face" that aired in June 2025.
Fans noted that several other notable figures were also absent from this year's In Memoriam segment, including Daveigh Chase and Nicholas Brendon.
The Television Academy provided a statement explaining the omissions, citing "inevitable time limitations" that prevent the inclusion of "all of the worthy television professionals who have passed away from year to year." The academy maintains an In Memoriam database on its website, which includes Ransone.
Ransome's death was ruled a suicide by hanging. In 2021, he had publicly shared his experience as a survivor of sexual abuse, detailing an incident in 1992 involving a former tutor. He stated that this abuse led to a "lifetime of shame and embarrassment" and contributed to his struggles with addiction before he achieved sobriety in 2006.
Ransome and McPhee married in 2017 and had two children: son Jack, 7, and daughter Violet, 5.