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Manager pays heartwarming tribute to Isiah Whitlock Jr after The Wire star dies aged 71
Isiah Whitlock Jr, the American actor best known for playing slimy politician Clay Davis on HBO’s crime drama The Wire, has died at age 71, his manager said on Tuesday.
The news has stunned fans of the hit show where his character’s exaggerated catchphrase “sheeeee-it” became one of its most quoted lines.
His manager wrote on social media, “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.” Tributes have been pouring in online from colleagues and admirers who loved his work on both television and film.
Whitlock not only delighted audiences with his memorable television roles, he also built a huge resume on the big screen and in voice work that showed his range as an actor over many years.
Career highlights in television and film
Whitlock’s portrayal of Clay Davis on The Wire was a standout performance in a series based on former journalist David Simon’s gritty tales from the seedy underbelly of drug trafficking and criminal politicking in Baltimore, Maryland.
Writers on the show leaned into his character’s catchphrase, a drawn-out pronunciation of “s***” that lasted several syllables – “sheeeee-it”.
He also had a significant role as the US Secretary of Defence on the political satire TV comedy series Veep, a show known for parodying the workplace environment of politicians in Washington.
On the big screen, Whitlock appeared in many films by director Spike Lee, including She Hate Me, 25th Hour, Red Hook Summer, Chi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods.
Lee posted a photo on social media of himself holding hands with Whitlock, calling him “My Dear Beloved Brother”.
Early life and other work
In one of his earliest film roles, Whitlock appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, as a doctor who provided mobster Henry Hill with Valium.
His deep baritone voice was also heard in animated movies and TV shows, including Pixar’s Lightyear and Cars 3.
Born in the midwestern state of Indiana as a middle child in a family of 10, Whitlock had a steel mill worker for a father.
He graduated from Southwest State University and studied drama at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater.
With more than 125 acting credits to his name, his career included decades of steady work in projects that reached audiences around the world.