Late Actor James Ransone Credited With Saving Woman From Assault: ‘I’m So Grateful He Existed’
A woman named Molly Watts has shared a heartfelt tribute to late actor James Ransone, revealing that he once saved her from a s**** assault while they lived in the same building in Chinatown. Ransone passed away on December 21 at the age of 46.
On Instagram, Watts wrote, “I’m usually private but I want to publicly say I am so grateful that this man existed and don’t know if the trajectory of my life would be the same if he hadn’t.”
She recounted the terrifying moment when she was attacked outside her building. “I was attacked at the threshold of our building. I screamed for help. No one came. My attacker put his hands around my throat so I would stop making noise. I couldn’t breathe. I remember the certainty that I was going to die or be r**** as I was choked unconscious.”
Watts explained that Ransone, whom she referred to as PJ, ran to her aid. “PJ heard my screams and ran to help. He came running shirtless, carrying a bat or pipe — I’m not sure which, because I never saw him in action. He scared my attacker, who ran. PJ chased him to the building he fled to. Because of the chase, the police were able to identify him, a repeat sexual offender. PJ saved me. I’m not sure if I would have the same life if he hadn’t run down that night.”
She also reflected on the impact of Ransone’s own struggles. “Even as an adult, I’m not sure how I would have handled the weight of what could have happened or how long it would take to heal — I was already emotionally fragile. What’s especially hard for me with PJ’s passing is that he lived with that kind of violence.”
“What I was spared, he endured in a different form, at an age where there is no emotional defense, and the self is still forming. I get the sense that PJ’s life was haunted by what happened to him then. This world is rarely gentle to people who are hurt, vulnerable, acting out.”
Ransone was known for his roles as Ziggy Sobotka on The Wire and adult Eddy Kaspbrak in It: Chapter Two, along with recent credits in Black Phone 2, V/H/S/85, Small Engine Repair, What We Found, Poker Face, Seal Team, 50 States of Fright, and The First.
Watts added that she had thought about reaching out to him over the years to express her gratitude. “I wanted to reach out to him to let him know how grateful I was that he ran towards my screams. I didn’t. I regret that.” She also shared a GoFundMe link to support Ransone’s family.
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