Isiah Whitlock Jr., the actor widely recognized for his compelling portrayal of state Senator Clay Davis in the acclaimed HBO series "The Wire" and for his significant collaborations with filmmaker Spike Lee, passed away Tuesday in New York following a short illness. He was 71 years old, according to information provided by his manager, Brian Liebman.
Whitlock’s character, Clay Davis, appeared in 25 episodes spanning all five seasons of "The Wire." The role became a standout, in part due to the senator’s unabashed corruption and the actor’s delivery of the now-iconic catchphrase “sheee-it,” which Davis used to communicate moments of triumph or candid truth. This catchphrase had its origins in an earlier film collaboration between Whitlock and Lee — the 2002 drama "The 25th Hour," where Whitlock’s detective character reacts to discovering a stash of drugs concealed within a couch.
Following that debut, Whitlock featured in four more Spike Lee films: "She Hate Me" (2004), "Red Hook Summer" (2012), "Chi-Raq" (2015), "BlacKkKlansman" (2018), and "Da 5 Bloods" (2020). Lee reflected on their long-standing professional relationship, remarking how effectively they connected from the outset. He particularly fondly recalled their time spent shooting "Da 5 Bloods" on location in Thailand and their recent reunion at an early-year screening of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," which he attended with his daughter, Satchel.
Lee described Whitlock as possessing a "beautiful soul" whose presence uplifted those around him, noting that this personal warmth outweighed even his acting talent.
Beyond dramatic roles, Whitlock was also known for his comedic abilities, both on set and in social settings. Lee noted, "He was hilarious in nature, always making people laugh and keeping everyone engaged in the moment."
Whitlock’s death marks the second prominent loss from "The Wire" cast in recent weeks, following the passing of fellow actor James Ransone.
Born in South Bend, Indiana, Whitlock attended Southwest Minnesota State University where he studied theater and played football. An injury eventually led him to fully focus on acting, prompting a move to San Francisco where he worked extensively in theater before breaking into television and film.
Starting with guest roles on shows such as "Cagney and Lacy" in the late 1980s, Whitlock also appeared in minor roles in the 1990 films "Goodfellas" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch." Post "The Wire," he secured a recurring role on HBO's political satire "Veep," portraying Secretary of Defense George Maddox over three seasons. His character notably competed against Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Selina Meyer during the presidential primaries.
David Simon, creator of "The Wire," took to social media to honor Whitlock’s memory, emphasizing both his skill as an actor and his exemplary character off-screen, calling him “the greatest gentleman.”
This article has been revised to accurately state that Clay Davis was a state senator, not a city councilman as previously misstated.