‘The Wire’ Actor Who Also Starred In ‘Veep’ Passes Away

“The Wire” actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. has died. He was 71.

The veteran character actor was a familiar face on hit shows including “The Wire,” “Veep,” “Your Honor” and “The Residence,” carving out a career playing sharp-tongued power brokers and crooked politicians.

Whitlock’s manager, Brian Liebman, announced the death on Tuesday in an Instagram post.

“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.”

Liebman also told Deadline that Whitlock died peacefully after battling a short illness.

Whitlock began his television career in 1987 with a role on CBS’ drama “Cagney & Lacey,” but his breakout came years later as smooth-talking, corrupt Maryland state Sen. Clayton “Clay” Davis on HBO’s “The Wire.”

He appeared across all five seasons of the acclaimed crime drama, first as a recurring character in Seasons 1 through 4 before becoming a main cast member in Season 5.

“The Wire,” which ran from 2002 to 2008, followed Baltimore’s drug trade, police and political institutions and became one of the most celebrated TV dramas of its era.

Isiah Whitlock Jr. in “The Wire” (Screenshot)

Whitlock later earned fan-favorite status on HBO’s “Veep,” playing Secretary of Defense George Maddox, and appeared as a corrupt judge on Showtime’s “Your Honor.”

His final screen role came earlier this year, in March, on Netflix’s murder-mystery series “The Residence.”

Whitlock’s death follows the loss of his former “The Wire” co-star James Ransone earlier this month. Ransone, who played Ziggy Sobotka during the show’s second season, died at 46.

Ransone appeared in 12 episodes of the HBO series in 2003. The Los Angeles County medical examiner said he died by suicide. He was married and a father of two.

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