James Ransone

James Ransone
Born James Finley Ransone III
June 2, 1979
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation Actor, musician
Years active 2001–present

James Finley Ransone III[1] (born June 2, 1979) is an American actor. He is best known for his acting roles as Ziggy Sobotka in the second season of HBO's The Wire, as U.S. Marine Corporal Josh Ray Person in the Iraq War-based mini-series Generation Kill,[2][3] and Tate from Ken Park, most notably, for his infamous and somewhat controversial scene depicting autoerotic asphyxiation.[4]

Life and career

Ransone was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Joyce (Peterson) and James Finley Ransone II.[1][5] A former musician, at the age of 27, Ransone had developed a heroin habit and a debt of $30,000,[6] but radically altered his lifestyle by moving to Namibia for eight months, undergoing immersion into his role as Person in Generation Kill. He appeared in a small recurring role in the HBO series Treme. In 2011, Ransone and Michael Zegen were cast in recurring roles in the HBO comedy series How to Make It in America. Ransone appeared in the show's pilot episode, and then a further six episodes.

In 2006, Ransone saved his neighbor from being raped, by answering her cries for help, and fighting off her assailant.[6][7][8] He was interviewed in the film Freakonomics as a bystander regarding the issue of ethnicity and names. In 2012, he starred in the film Starlet as Mikey.[9] In June 2014, it was announced that Ransone had joined the cast of Ti West '​s Western drama film In a Valley of Violence.[10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 The American Astronaut Bodysuit
2002 Ken Park Tate
2003 Nola Neo-Gothboy
2004 A Dirty Shame Dingy Dave
2004 Downtown: A Street Tale Billy
2004 Malachance Mika
2005 The Good Humor Man Junebug
2006 Inside Man Steve-O
2006 Puccini for Beginners Lone Guy at Bistro
2008 Prom Night Detective Nash
2009 The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll Chip Genson
2010 The Next Three Days Harv
2011 The Lie Weasel
2011 Son of No One Thomas Prudenti
2012 Sinister Deputy So-and-So
2012 Starlet Mikey Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble Cast
2012 Red Hook Summer Kevin
2013 Broken City Todd Lancaster
2013 Empire State Agent Nugent
2013 Oldboy Dr. Tom Melby
2014 Electric Slide Jan Phillips
2014 Anarchy Philario
2014 Kristy Scott
2015 Tangerine Chester
2015 The Timber Wyatt Completed
2015 Bloomin Mud Shuffle Lonnie Completed
2015 Sinister 2 Deputy So-and-So Post-production
2015 In a Valley of Violence Gilly Post-production
2015 Mr. Right TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Law & Order Mark Dale Episode: "Deep Vote"
2002 Third Watch Frankie 2 episodes
2002 Ed Gary Morton Episode: "Power of the Person"
2003 The Wire Chester "Ziggy" Sobotka 12 episodes
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Zack Coppola Episode: "Iced"
2006 Love Monkey Glenn Episode: "The Window"
2006 Law & Order Michael Wayland Episode: "Fame"
2006 Jericho Daryl Episode: "A.K.A."
2008 Generation Kill Corporal Josh Ray Person 7 episodes
2010 How to Make It in America Tim 7 episodes
2010 Burn Notice Dennis Wayne Barfield Episode: "Eyes Open"
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Johnny D. / Perry Hutchinson Episode: "Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio"
2011 Treme Nick 10 episodes
2013 Low Winter Sun Damon Callis Main cast; 10 episodes

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Alvarez, Rafael; Simon, David (2009). The Wire: Truth Be Told. Canongate Books. ISBN 978 1 84767 598 9.
  2. Hooley, Danny (August 1, 2008). "TV Eye: Actor James Ransone on 'Generation Kill'". The News & Observer.
  3. Robinson, John (September 26, 2009). "Killing yourself to live". London: The Guardian.
  4. McCarthy, Todd (September 5, 2002). "Review: 'Ken Park'". Variety.
  5. "Charles M. MastinTrucker, fire buffCharles M. Mastin, a...". Baltimore Sun. February 4, 1994.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "James Ransone: From 115 lb. Heroin Addict to Indie Hero". WordPress. December 2, 2009.
  7. von Furstenberg, Mui (April 5, 2006). "James 'P.J.' Ransone Becomes A Hero". Socialite Life.
  8. "James Ransone kicks rapist's ass". The Superficial. April 5, 2006.
  9. DeFore, John (March 17, 2012). "Starlet: SXSW Review". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  10. Yamato, Jen (June 3, 2014). "James Ransone Joins Blumhouse Western 'In A Valley Of Violence'". Deadline.

External links