Isiah Whitlock Jr., The Wire actor and frequent collaborator with Spike Lee, died at 71 after a brief sickness, his representatives informed Deadline.
Throughout an extended and colourful filmography, Whitlock held small roles in Goodfellas and Gremlins 2, stole scenes as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on 22 episodes of The Wire, and lent his voice to Vehicles 3 and Grand Theft Auto V.
With Spike Lee, he appeared in She Hate Me, twenty fifth Hour, Pink Hook Summer season, Chi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman, and Da 5 Bloods, growing an in-universe trademark for, “Sheeeeeit,” his pronunciation of shit. He mentioned in 2008 that he had picked this up from his uncle, Leon.
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Born in South Bend, Indiana, Whitlock went on to look in comedies as various as Cagney & Lacey, Veep, and Chappelle’s Present, plus extra dramatic turns in Your Honor and The Residence, wherein he was seen in eight episodes in 2025. He appeared as a number of characters throughout Regulation & Order franchises.
