Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr, best known for playing Senator Clay Davis in The Wire, passed away at 71 in New York. A veteran performer, his decades-long career featured collaborations with Spike Lee and memorable roles across film and television. Renowned for his distinctive voice and screen presence, Whitlock leaves behind a body of work marked by several scene-stealing performances.

The actor's death was confirmed by his manager, Brian Liebman, who shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, remembering Whitlock as "a brilliant actor and an even better person." Liebman said that the actor would be deeply missed. Born in Indiana, Whitlock was admired for his commanding screen presence and warmth off camera.

A prolific character actor, he was a frequent collaborator of Spike Lee, appearing in films such as BlacKkKlansman, Da 5 Bloods, She Hate Me, 25th Hour, Chi-Raq and Red Hook Summer. Even in brief roles, his performances left a lasting impression. Whitlock's career-defining turn came with HBO's The Wire, where his portrayal of Clay Davis and the character's iconic "sheeeeee-it" catchphrase became part of pop culture. The actor had often said that fans stopped him on the streets just to hear him repeat the line.

Whitlock also featured in films such as Goodfellas, Enchanted and Pieces of April, as well as television series such as Chappelle’s Show and Veep, where he played US Secretary of Defence George Maddox. He voiced characters in Pixar's Cars 3 and Lightyear and has completed work on Hoppers, scheduled for release in 2026. The veteran actor last appeared as Bob in the hit horror-comedy Cocaine Bear (2023).

Isiah Whitlock Jr is survived by his wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock, his children, Ashley Brown, Beau Whitlock, and Tim Whitlock Kelly, and his sister, Debbie Wade.