Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor celebrated for Homicide: Life on the Street and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, tragically passed away in December 2023 at age 61 after a private battle with lung cancer. At the time of his death, Braugher was filming The Residence, Shonda Rhimes’ new White House mystery, where he portrayed A.B. Wynter- a composed chief usher turned victim. The role was later recast with Giancarlo Esposito, but Braugher’s legacy lingers through flashbacks and a poignant tribute card closing the season.

Stepping into Braugher’s role was no small feat, but Esposito found strength in their decades-long friendship and shared theatrical roots.

At The Residence premiere, Giancarlo Esposito opened up to Variety about honoring Andre Braugher’s memory while making the role his own. The two had collaborated on Homicide: Life on the Street and bonded over New York theater in their early careers. Esposito initially hesitated to replace his late friend but realized Braugher would want him to embrace the challenge authentically. "I honor him completely in my performance because I knew him," he said. 

Creator Paul William Davies also confirmed to PEOPLE, that no rewrites were needed for Esposito, praising his ability to reinterpret A.B. Wynter while preserving Braugher’s spirit. Davies emphasized the cast’s gratitude for Esposito joining under such tragic circumstances, noting the actor’s personal connection to Braugher added emotional depth to the transition. Additionally, the series honors Braugher with a memorial card in its finale, ensuring his contributions remain etched into the show’s DNA. The Residence has much more to offer. 

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The show blended screwball comedy and political intrigue, drawing inspiration from old mystery films and a pop icon’s surprise cameo.

Showrunner Paul William Davies revealed Knives Out revitalized his passion for crime mysteries, citing its modern twist on 1970s whodunits as a blueprint. The Residence mirrors Rian Johnson’s playful genre reinvention, mixing Clue-style chaos with Fawlty Towers farce. Uzo Aduba stars as detective Cordelia Cupp, navigating a star-studded suspect list during a White House state dinner.

The series also features unexpected casting coups, including Kylie Minogue as herself. Davies admitted the team wrote her role ambitiously, unsure if the pop legend would agree. Minogue’s enthusiasm led to an expanded part, complete with a rendition of her hit 'Can’t Get You Out of My Head'. The collaboration, Davies said, epitomized the show’s blend of whimsy and suspense. The Residence stands as both a gripping whodunit and a moving homage to Andre Braugher, blending sharp genre reinvention with heartfelt reverence.

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Share your favorite Andre Braugher memory or thoughts on Giancarlo Esposito’s heartfelt tribute in the comments.