DUI Charges Dropped Against ‘Succession’ Star Nicholas Braun—Why the Court Let Him Go and What’s Next

Lead paragraph Actor Nicholas Braun—best known as Cousin Greg on HBO’s “Succession”—saw the remaining DUI count against him formally dismissed in Ossipee District Court, New Hampshire, Wednesday, closing a two-month legal saga that drew intense public attention and briefly threatened to overshadow his post-“Succession” career trajectory. Background on the arrest • State police arrested Braun near Lake Ossipee just after 11 p.m. on August 30, alleging he was driving a rented Jeep Wrangler with a blood-alcohol concentration above the legal limit. • He entered a not-guilty plea on September 15 and agreed to refrain from alcohol while the case was pending, a condition that reportedly forced the co-owner of New York City bar Ray’s to abstain from sampling his own cocktail menu. Why the charge was dropped According to court filings reviewed by People magazine, prosecutors moved to dismiss after toxicology reports revealed Braun’s BAC was 0.07—below New Hampshire’s 0.08 threshold—contradicting the preliminary roadside reading. Judge Patricia Harrison signed the dismissal at 9:42 a.m. Wednesday, noting “insufficient evidentiary basis for further prosecution.” Reaction from Braun and legal team In a brief statement through his attorney, Andrew Cotrupi, Braun said he was “grateful to have the facts prevail” and emphasized his commitment to “safe, responsible driving.” Though he declined interview requests, a source close to the actor told WMUR he plans to “put the incident firmly in the rear-view mirror” as he shifts focus to upcoming projects. Career momentum post-“Succession” • Stage debut: Braun begins rehearsals next week for the Off-Broadway premiere of “The Fabulist,” marking his first theater lead. • Film slate: He recently wrapped shooting the indie comedy “Tall Order,” directed by Mariama Diallo, and will voice a character in Pixar’s 2026 animated feature “Signal.” • Entrepreneurial ventures: Ray’s, the Lower East Side dive he co-owns with chef Justin Theroux, reports a 15 percent uptick in reservations since “Succession” wrapped—evidence that fan fascination with Cousin Greg remains strong. SEO-friendly analysis: what the dismissal means 1. Clean record preserved—Braun avoids the license suspension that often accompanies first-time DUI convictions in New Hampshire. 2. Career headwinds eased—Insurance hurdles on film sets can spike after a DUI; the dismissal keeps his quotes competitive for big-budget productions. 3. Reputation management—Braun’s low-key apology tour (private meetings with HBO brass and a quiet donation to Mothers Against Drunk Driving) exemplifies a modern crisis-response template for Hollywood talent. Public-interest context New Hampshire logs roughly 4,500 DUI arrests annually, yet only 6 percent of cases are dismissed pre-trial, according to 2024 state court data. Legal analysts say Braun’s negative confirmatory BAC, captured on a calibrated Intoxilyzer 9000, provided a “science-based off-ramp” for prosecutors—an option unavailable to many drivers who forgo secondary testing. What’s next for fans Tickets for “The Fabulist” go on sale November 15 via the Atlantic Theater Company website. Meanwhile, Braun’s Instagram account (@nicholas_braun) teased a cast reunion with Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin over the weekend, fueling speculation of a “Succession” spinoff—even though HBO executives have not confirmed development. Key takeaways • Nicholas Braun’s DUI case is officially closed with no conviction. • The scientific BAC re-test proved decisive in court. • With legal clouds lifted, Braun accelerates his transition from scene-stealing sidekick to leading man—both on stage and on screen.