James Ransone attending a red carpet event
TV & Film

James Ransone's Widow Slams Emmys for Omitting Him From 'In Memoriam' Segment

Jamie McPhee called out the Television Academy after the late star of The Wire was left out of the broadcast's annual tribute.

BUZZBEAT NewsroomSep 16, 20262 min read

The family of James Ransone is taking a public stand after television's biggest night completely overlooked the late screen star. Following the latest Emmy Awards broadcast, the actor's widow, Jamie "Skipper" McPhee, voiced her heartbreak and frustration over the Television Academy's failure to include her husband in their annual "In Memoriam" segment. McPhee took to Instagram Stories shortly after the ceremony wrapped to call out the decision. She admitted that while she did not watch the awards show live as it aired, finding out about the omission after the fact made the snub feel particularly painful. Tagging the Television Academy directly in her social media post, McPhee emphasized that it was deeply unfair to ignore Ransone's life work after everything he gave to the medium. ## why was james ransone left out of emmys in memoriam The actor passed away in December 2025 at the age of 46. Throughout his career, he delivered standout performances across television and cinema. Small-screen fans knew him best for his memorable portrayal of Ziggy Sobotka in HBO's legendary drama *The Wire*, as well as his work in the critically praised military miniseries *Generation Kill*. McPhee pointed out that the Television Academy was not the only major industry organization to pass over Ransone during their annual broadcast. According to reports detailing her posts, she noted that the Oscars similarly left him out of their own live tribute segment earlier in the year, making the Emmy omission part of an even more disappointing pattern for his loved ones. ## who is james ransone wife jamie mcphee In her online messages, McPhee remembered her late partner with deep affection and sharp honesty. She reflected on his unique personality, noting that while he could be complex and challenging to different people, his exceptional skill as an actor was never up for debate. Despite expressing her own disappointment over the institutional oversight, McPhee added a bit of lighthearted perspective about how her husband would have reacted to the news. She noted that Ransone himself likely would not have cared about missing out on the award show recognition, even as those who loved him continue to advocate for his legacy.

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People also ask

Who was James Ransone?
James Ransone was an American actor best known for his breakout roles in HBO series like The Wire and Generation Kill.
Why was James Ransone's widow upset with the Emmys?
Jamie McPhee called out the Television Academy for leaving her late husband out of the live 'In Memoriam' segment during the Emmy Awards.