Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., best known for his role on HBO's 2000s crime drama "The Wire," has died, his manager said Tuesday. He was 71.
"It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr.," the manager said in a statement. "If you knew him — you loved him."
There were no details about the cause of death.
Whitlock's approachable presence came with a side of corruption on "The Wire." He portrayed Maryland state Sen. Clay Davis from 2002 to 2008 on the acclaimed crime drama created by journalist David Simon.
Whitlock's character was known for his trademark expression, a profanity that inspired the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum to release a 20th Anniversary Edition Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Talking Bobblehead in 2022, on the 20th anniversary of the catchphrase's debut on "The Wire."
In a 2010 interview with Blackfilm, Whitlock was asked whether he was satisfied with how history has viewed “The Wire” as superlative television despite a dearth of Hollywood awards.
“Would it have been nice at the time to be recognized by your peers?” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and lie to you, but what I will say is that at the end of the day the most important thing is that you’re doing the best work that you can possibly do. And at the end of the day you know you were a part of something good and I think that will history will show, what little history there’s been since ‘The Wire,’ that people have come to realize that it truly was one of the great shows of all time. That makes me feel very, very good and very proud to have been a part of it.”
Show creator Simon posted a caption-less photo of Whitlock on Bluesky on Tuesday.
Whitlock’s biography on his website fills in the rest of his career, noting he also played characters across the spectrum of stage and screen.
He was Joe in the Christopher Shinn play "Four," for which he was nominated for a coveted off-Broadway accolade, the Lucille Lortelle Award, in the outstanding featured actor category, his bio says.
Whitlock was also seen as a sympathetic doctor in Martin Scorsese’s "Goodfellas," in multiple guest appearances on "Law & Order" and in Spike Lee’s "25th Hour," Peter Hedges’ film "Pieces of April" and Miguel Arteta’s "Cedar Rapids."
Lee depended on Whitlock’s artistry for a number of his films, including “Da Five Bloods,” in which he played a Vietnam veteran, and “BlackKkKlansman,” in which he portrayed a police officer. He also appeared in “Red Hook Summer,” “Chi-Raq” and “She Hate Me,” which presented him in smaller roles.
Lee paid tribute to Whitlock on Instagram on Tuesday, saying, “Today I Learned Of The Passing Of My Dear Beloved Brother ISIAH WHITLOCK. GOD BLESS.”
Whitlock was born in South Bend, Indiana, one of 11 children, his bio says, and learned to live "without many creature comforts."
He attended Southwest Minnesota State University on a football scholarship but turned to the school's drama department when injuries sidetracked his athletic dreams, according to his website.
He has said he was establishing the Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Fine Arts Theatre Endowment to give back to Southwest Minnesota State and provide scholarships to aspiring thespians.
His manager described him Tuesday as "a brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed."
