Watch Andre Braugher Online

Braugher, the youngest of four children, was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Sally, a postal worker, and Floyd Braugher, a heavy-equipment operator. He went to high school at St. Ignatius College Prep. He graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in theater in 1984; he was originally a pre-med student. Braugher then attended the Juilliard School in New York City, graduating in 1988 where he was acknowledged as the most outstanding theater student at graduation.

Braugher's first film role was in the 1989 Civil War epic Glory as Thomas Searles, a free, educated black from the North who joins the first black regiment in the Union Army. He subsequently moved on to a role on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street as Det. Frank Pembleton, a self-righteous, fiery, unyielding, Jesuit-educated police detective. Playing opposite Kyle Secor (who portrayed Det. Tim Bayliss), Braugher became the series' breakout star. He received Television Critics Association awards for individual achievement in drama in 1997 and 1998. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for best actor in a drama series in 1996 and 1998, winning in the latter year. He left Homicide after its sixth season but returned for the successful reunion made-for-TV film. He has also starred in the movies City of Angels and Poseidon.

In 1997 he was selected by People as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World." At New York City's Shakespeare in the Park Festival from June 18 to July 14, 1996 at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, Braugher played the title role in Henry V for which he received an Obie Award. In 2000, he played the title role as Ben Gideon in the series Gideon's Crossing, which lasted only one season despite good reviews. In 2006, Braugher starred as Nick Atwater in the mini-series Thief for FX Networks, winning a second Emmy for his performance. He portrayed General Hager in the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

In 1991, Braugher married Ami Brabson, an actress who later played Pembleton's wife Mary on Homicide. The couple have three sons: Michael, born in 1992, Isaiah, born in 1997, and John Wesley, born in 2003. They reside in South Orange, New Jersey.