On December 19, 2023, Jamie McPhee’s life was forever altered when her husband, James Ransone, 46, a known actor from ‘It Chapter Two,’ took his own life. Less than a week later, she began sharing how she is coping with the loss while raising their two children, Jack, 6, and Violet, 4.
Coping with Grief
McPhee posted on Instagram on December 23 that she had taken her kids to a local mall after a park outing. She wrote, “They wanted ice cream after the park,” explaining how she had taken them to the mall. “Violet picked out a pink backpack. Jack made me buy and then build things at the Lego store.”
Unexpected Support
She noted that for the first time in her life, people seemed to recognize her. She shared that she heard someone behind her in the food court say, “ask her.” While she was grateful that strangers did not approach her about Ransone’s passing, the experience reminded her that “you never really know what people are going through.”
Finding Light in the Darkness
McPhee reflected on moments of normalcy amid grief: “In many moments we looked…happy. Normal. Laughing. Smiling,” she wrote. She added, “How? Not because we aren’t grieving. We are. But because I have two beautiful, incredible children who force me daily to see all the love and all the light that still exists inside of this.”
Tribute to PJ
Addressing her late husband by his nickname “PJ,” McPhee wrote a heartbreaking note. She said his “devastating loss has also given so many an unbelievable gift” in “countless stories” about his life from friends and family. She added, “There are probably a hundred thousand more I still haven’t heard of people reconnecting,” continuing, “Of friendships healing after years of silence. Of truths finally being spoken. Of old pain being brought into the light and somehow… softening.”
She recalled a conversation in the weeks before he left: “In the weeks before you left us, after months of telling me nearly every regret you’d ever carried: every mistake, every f—up, every hurtful thing you thought you’d written or said, you burst into tears and said: ‘Babe, you know the most fucked-up thing of all? I actually love everyone,'” McPhee recalled. “Well babe, it turns out that despite all of it, everyone actually loves you too.”
On December 21, she posted a photo of herself and Ransone with the caption, “I told you I have loved you 1000 times before and I know I will love you again, You told me – I need to be more like you and you need to be more like me – and you were so right.” She added, “Thank you for giving me the greatest gifts – you, Jack and Violet,” and concluded, “We are forever.”
Support Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
