'It' Actor James Ransone Remembered for Heroic Act That Saved Woman's Life
- - 'It' Actor James Ransone Remembered for Heroic Act That Saved Woman's Life
Deborah CruzDecember 23, 2025 at 11:48 PM
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When actor James Ransone died on Dec. 19 at age 46, tributes poured in celebrating his work on shows like The Wire and films like It. But one tribute stood apart, revealing a side of Ransone most people never knew.
A woman named Molly Watts shared on Instagram this week that Ransone once stopped her from being sexually assaulted. The incident happened in 2006 when they both lived in New York's Chinatown neighborhood.
Watts posted that she remains deeply thankful Ransone was there that night, adding that her entire life might have turned out differently without his help.
A Neighbor's Quick Action Changed Everything
The attack happened right outside their apartment building. Watts was grabbed by someone who started strangling her when she screamed. She believed she was going to die.
Ransone heard the noise from inside his apartment. Without stopping to put on a shirt, he grabbed something to use as a weapon and rushed outside. His sudden appearance scared the attacker into running away.
But Ransone didn't stop there. He chased after the man, which later helped police track him down. Authorities discovered the attacker had committed similar crimes before.
Watts used Ransone's nickname PJ when describing how he rescued her that night.
The actor mentioned the incident years later during a radio interview, explaining he'd been watching television in his pajamas when he heard someone screaming outside. His immediate reaction was to run toward the sound.
Years of Gratitude Left Unspoken
In her Instagram post, Watts admitted she'd thought about reaching out to Ransone many times over the years. She wanted to tell him how much his actions meant to her. But she never made contact, something she now wishes she had done.
View this post on Instagram
Her tribute also recognized the difficult experiences Ransone faced throughout his own life. The actor had openly discussed battling heroin addiction, though he got sober the same year he helped Watts. He'd also talked publicly about surviving abuse as a child.
Watts wrote that knowing about Ransone's painful past makes his death even harder. While he protected her from violence, he'd experienced his own trauma when he was too young to defend himself.
Photo by Jeff Kravitz on Getty ImagesRemembering James Ransone's Career and Life
Ransone grew up in Baltimore and eventually appeared in more than 50 movies. Television audiences knew him best from The Wire and Generation Kill. Horror fans recognized him as adult Eddie Kaspbrak in the recent It films.
Related: Willie Nelson, 92, Says One Key Moment Will Make Him Retire From Playing Music
Before acting took off, he studied art and filmmaking. He worked for a nightlife photographer in New York and played in various punk bands during the early 2000s.
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When he died, Ransone was living in Los Angeles with his wife and children. Authorities confirmed his death was a suicide.
His intervention in 2006 shows a man who didn't hesitate to help someone in danger, even though he was dealing with his own struggles at the time.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
