Isiah Whitlock Jr, Wire star and HBO actor, dies at 71 years old

“The Wire” star Isiah Whitlock Jr. lost his life. He was 71 years old.

Whitlock died peacefully in New York on Tuesday after battling a brief illness, his manager Brian Liebman confirmed to The Associated Press.

Whitlock was known for his role as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on HBO’s “The Wire.”

Liebman took to Instagram Tuesday to honor Whitlock after his death.

“It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client, Isiah Whitlock Jr.. If you knew him – you loved him. A great actor and an even better person. May his memory be a blessing forever. Our hearts are broken. We will miss him very, very much,” Liebman wrote alongside photos of the actor.

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Whitlock also has a breakout role in “Veep,” playing U.S. Secretary of Defense George Maddox.

Isiah Whitlock Jr. He is best known for his role on HBO’s “The Wire.” (Getty Images)

The actor also appeared in some of Spike Lee’s films, including “BlacKkKlansman”, “Da 5 Bloods”, “She Hate Me”, “25th Hour”, “Red Hook Summer” and “Chi-Raq”.

In “The 25th Hour,” Whitlock introduced the iconic phrase “sheeeeeit,” a rendition of “sh-t.” The phrase became so popular that the writers of “The Wire” decided to incorporate it into his character’s language.

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“I think I was in Grand Central Station and I heard someone far away saying that and they were kind of smiling,” he said. “I’m glad people enjoyed it,” Whitlock said. 2008 interview.

Whitlock also appeared in a number of Spike Lee films. (Getty Images)

Whitlock also starred in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas.”

Whitlock’s last TV role was on Netflix’s “The Residence.” The series premiered on the streaming service in March. He was also a voice actor in Pixar’s animated film “Hoppers,” which is scheduled to be released in 2026.

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