According to Deadline, Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Goodfellas, Cocaine Baer), well-known veteran actor, has sadly passed away on Tuesday in New York at the age of 71. Whitlock Jr is known for memorable roles in such series as The Wire, Veep, Your Honor and The Residence. His manager, Brian Liebman (Carol & Joy, Brats), told Deadline that Whitlock died peacefully after battling a short illness..
As per Deadline, Whitlock Jr was born in South Bend, Indiana. He started his acting career by joining San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater after graduating from college. His first notable screen role was a guest shot on CBS’s Cagney & Lacey in 1987. Through the first few years of his early career as an actor, he worked steadily in television doing dozens of guest appearances, including the Law & Order franchise, with multiple episodes each on the mothership series, Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent.
According to Deadline, the late actor is more known for his role as State Sen. R. Clayton “Clay” Davis on HBO’s The Wire. He was part of the cast for five seasons of David Simon’s (The Corner, Treme) lauded crime drama, recurring in the first four seasons before joining the main cast in season five. Whitlock’s last TV role was a series-regular turn as the Chief of Police opposite Whitlock’s last TV role was a series-regular turn as the Chief of Police opposite Uzo Aduba (In Treatment, Painkiller) on Netflix’s White House murder mystery The Residenceon Netflix’s White House murder mystery The Residence.
As per Deadline, in 25th Hour , Whitlock first introduced what would become his signature phrase, ‘Sheeeeeit,” his own interpretation of the word “sh*t.” During a 2008 interview, he stated that he had picked up the line from his uncle Leon. The phrase’s popularity grew, and it soon became a pop culture staple.
“I was in, I think, Grand Central Station and far away I heard someone say it and they’d be kind of smiling” he said via Deadline. “I’m glad people enjoy it.”
“Isiah was a brilliant actor and even better person,” Liebman told Deadline. “He was loved by all who had the pleasure to work with or know him. He will be greatly missed.”