Braugher started his acting career as part of The Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park, appearing in Much Ado About Nothing (1988), Coriolanus (1989), Twelfth Night (1996), Hamlet (2008), and As You Like It (2012).

Braugher's film roles include Glory (1989), Primal Fear (1996), City of Angels (1998), Frequency (2000), Duets (2000), Poseidon (2006), The Mist (2007), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Salt (2010), The Gambler (2014), and She Said (2022).

[12] In 2002, Braugher narrated the award-winning, PBS-broadcast documentary Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, produced by Unity Productions Foundation.

[2] Braugher acted in the Manhattan Theatre Club's production of the Matthew Lopez play The Whipping Man, off-Broadway, for a limited run from January–March 2011.

[12] Marilyn Stasio of Variety described the play as "genuinely moving and Braugher captures the moment with his thrilling evocation of Simon's pride and joy and hope".

[21] Braugher had a recurring role as defense attorney Bayard Ellis on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 2011 to 2015,[22] and starred as the lead character, Capt.

[23] In 2017, Braugher had a recurring role in season four of the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman as California Governor Woodchuck Coodchuck-Berkowitz.

For his performance in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

[9] In 1991, Braugher married actress Ami Brabson, who later appeared as Frank Pembleton's wife Mary in Homicide: Life on the Street.