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Isiah Whitlock Jr., the commanding actor best known for playing the corrupt state senator Clay Davis on "The Wire," died on Tuesday in New York City after a short illness, Variety has confirmed. He was 71.
His manager, Brian Liebman, shared the news on Instagram, writing: "It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr. If you knew him, you loved him. 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."
Indiana-born Whitlock was a prolific character actor who was a frequent collaborator of Spike Lee, appearing in his films "BlacKkKlansman," "Da 5 Bloods," "She Hate Me," "25th Hour," "Red Hook Summer" and "Chi-Raq." Director Spike Lee paid tribute online, calling Whitlock his "beloved brother" alongside a photo of the two men shaking hands.
Across many of his projects, he developed the catchphrase "sheeeeee-it," an elongated pronunciation of the word "shit." It started in "She Hate Me" and "25th Hour," and then the writers of "The Wire" began incorporating it into the HBO series. Whitlock said the delivery was inspired by his uncle. He noted he could be stopped on the street two to three times per day by fans asking him to say it. He once heard it in Grand Central Station, saying, "I'm glad people enjoy it." In a meta turn, Whitlock got to play a man obsessed with "The Wire" in the 2011 comedy "Cedar Rapids."
Whitlock also played a doctor in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" and had memorable roles in "Chappelle's Show," "Pieces of April," "Enchanted" and Pixar's "Cars 3" and "Lightyear." He also lent his voice to "Hoppers," Pixar's animated sci-fi comedy due in 2026. He also appeared in the "Law and Order" franchise.
In Seasons 2 through 4 of "Veep," Whitlock played George Maddox, the U.S. Secretary of Defense who runs against Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character Selina Meyer in the 2016 primaries. He brought a unique comedic presence to the political satire, distinct from his dramatic work, leaving an indelible mark on television history.
