James Ransone Net Worth

What was James Ransone's Net Worth?

James Ransone was an American actor who had a net worth of $500 thousand. Tragically, James died on December 19, 2025, at the age of 46.

Ransone became widely known for his role as Chester "Ziggy" Sobotka in season two of "The Wire," where he portrayed a troubled dockworker whose immaturity and desperation gradually curdle into tragedy. The performance was divisive at the time but has since been reassessed as one of the show's most psychologically layered arcs. His work caught the attention of series creator David Simon, who cast Ransone again in "Generation Kill" as Marine Corporal Josh Ray Person, a fast-talking, reckless soldier whose bravado masked fear and insecurity. Across the miniseries, Ransone balanced dark humor with moral unease, earning praise for humanizing a character caught inside an institutional war machine.

Beyond television, Ransone maintained a steady film career, often gravitating toward intense or unconventional projects. He reached a broader mainstream audience with "It Chapter Two," playing adult Eddie Kaspbrak, a role that blended comedy, neurosis, and emotional vulnerability within a large ensemble cast. Across genres, Ransone developed a reputation for authenticity and fearlessness, consistently choosing roles that demanded empathy for flawed, often deeply troubled characters.

Early Life

James Finley Ransone III was born on June 2, 1979, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of Joyce Ransone and James Finley Ransone II, a Vietnam War veteran, and grew up alongside his brother, Dave. Raised in Maryland, Ransone developed an early interest in the arts and attended the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson, a magnet school known for its focus on creative disciplines.

After graduating, he briefly attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, studying photography and visual art. He left after one year to pursue acting full-time, relocating to New York and immersing himself in the independent film scene at the start of the 2000s.

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/FilmMagic)

Career

Ransone began landing professional acting roles in the early 2000s, appearing in projects such as "The American Astronaut," along with guest roles on shows like "Law & Order," "Third Watch," and "Ed." His early breakthrough came with the controversial 2002 indie film "Ken Park," which announced him as an actor unafraid of difficult, emotionally exposed material.

In 2003, Ransone was cast as Ziggy Sobotka in "The Wire." Appearing in 12 episodes, he portrayed a reckless, emotionally immature dockworker whose desperate need for validation leads to devastating consequences. While the character initially divided audiences, Ransone's performance has since been widely reassessed as one of the show's most layered and tragic portrayals.

That performance led to further collaboration with David Simon, most notably in "Generation Kill," where Ransone played Marine Corporal Josh Ray Person across all seven episodes. His portrayal blended humor, bravado, and moral discomfort, earning praise for humanizing the contradictions of modern warfare. He later appeared in Simon's New Orleans–set drama "Treme," further cementing his place within HBO's prestige television ecosystem.

Outside of television, Ransone maintained a prolific film career. He appeared in studio productions such as "Inside Man," "The Next Three Days," and "Broken City," while continuing to work extensively in independent cinema. He became a familiar presence in horror and thriller films, including "Sinister," "Sinister 2," "Kristy," "Family Blood," and "The Black Phone."

Ransone reached his widest mainstream audience with "It Chapter Two," portraying the adult version of Eddie Kaspbrak. His performance balanced comedy, neurosis, and emotional vulnerability, standing out within a large ensemble cast and earning some of the film's strongest reviews.

In his later years, Ransone continued working steadily, with appearances in series such as "Bosch," "Mosaic," "The First," "SEAL Team," and films including "Small Engine Repair" and "V/H/S/85." Across genres and formats, he remained committed to roles that demanded emotional honesty and psychological depth.

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Personal Life

Ransone had a brief romance with actress Chloe Sevigny in 2008. He later married Jamie McPhee, with whom he had a son.

In his early adulthood, Ransone struggled with substance abuse and financial instability, developing a heroin addiction by his mid-20s. He became sober in 2007 and remained open about the personal toll those years took on his life and career.

In May 2021, Ransone publicly revealed that he had been sexually abused as a child by his math tutor, Timothy Rualo, while attending school in Maryland in 1992. He reported the allegations to Baltimore County police in 2020, but authorities declined to pursue criminal charges following an investigation. Ransone later spoke candidly about how the abuse contributed to his struggles with addiction and mental health.

James Ransone died on December 19, 2025, at the age of 46.

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