Brooklyn Nine-Nine features great character dynamics throughout its eight seasons, and one star recently recalled creating one of the best bonds of the show with the late Andre Braugher. Braugher played the serious but lovable Captain Holt in the NBC sitcom. He passed away in 2023, but his legacy remains with both fans of his work and his co-stars.
And Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg reflected on his time working with Braugher in an interview with People. The upbeat and lighthearted personality of Samberg’s Jake Peralta created the perfect contrast to Braugher’s police captain, delivering plenty of comical moments on-screen.
According to Samberg, the actors clicked instantly at their first table read, which explains a lot:
“Our dynamic worked immediately. It was like one of those things where you’re just like, ‘Okay, this is kismet.’ I don’t know how to explain it.”
It’s clear that the Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum was extremely fond of Braugher, who he also noted was “so deeply moral and kind and pleasant and smart.” The rest of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast were on the same page about this, which likely only added to the chemistry between the characters.
Andy Samberg & Andre Braugher’s Chemistry Created B99’s Best Dynamic
Their Connection Behind The Scenes Was Obvious On-Screen
It’s easy to believe that Samberg and Braugher had such a great relationship behind the scenes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as the actors went on to create the show’s best dynamic in Jake Peralta and Captain Holt. The two bounce off each other in a hilarious way, but it’s obvious throughout the sitcom that they care deeply about each other as both colleagues and friends.
Their fondness for each other off-screen likely contributed to that, though their acting chops obviously helped as well. Surprisingly, Samberg noted that Braugher “didn’t trust himself to do comedy“ initially, but it’s clear that concern was unwarranted. He nailed Holt’s characterization and used his more serious demeanor to ramp up the humor, no matter who he was interacting with.
What Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Cast Has Said About Andre Braugher
His Co-Stars All Respected & Admired Him
Samberg isn’t the only Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum who has fond memories of Braugher, and he even noted that the whole cast “absolutely loved him.” Following the actor’s death in 2023, tributes poured in from his co-stars. Melissa Fumero, who played Amy Santiago on the show, took to Instagram to recall all the great advice he gave her, along with the laughs.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Peretti, who played Gina, wrote on Instagram that she was “forever lucky” to have worked alongside Braugher. Terry Crews shared a similar sentiment (via Instagram), as did Joe Lo Truglio and Stephanie Beatriz. It’s clear the entire cast respected and appreciated Braugher, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine was even better for it.
