Isiah Whitlock Jr., actor known for The Wire, passes away at 71

American actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., best known for portraying a corrupt politician on HBO’s crime drama The Wire and for his frequent collaborations with Oscar-winning director Spike Lee, has died at the age of 71, his manager confirmed on Tuesday.

“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 an even better person,” manager Brian Liebman wrote on social media.

Whitlock earned widespread acclaim for his portrayal of the oily and manipulative Clay Davis on The Wire, the critically praised series created by former journalist David Simon that explored drug trafficking and political corruption in Baltimore, Maryland. The character became iconic for his elongated catchphrase, “sheeeee-it,” which the show’s writers repeatedly leaned into.

Simon paid tribute on Tuesday by sharing a photo of Whitlock, remembering him with affection.

Over a career spanning decades and more than 125 screen credits, Whitlock appeared in numerous Spike Lee films, including She Hate Me, 25th Hour, Red Hook Summer, Chi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods. Lee also shared a tribute, posting a photo of the two holding hands and calling Whitlock “my dear beloved brother.”

Among his other notable roles, Whitlock played the US secretary of defense in the political satire series Veep. One of his earliest film appearances was in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, where he portrayed a doctor who supplies mobster Henry Hill with valium.

Known for his deep, resonant voice, Whitlock also lent his talents to animated films and television, including Pixar’s Lightyear and Cars 3.

Born in Indiana, Whitlock was the middle child in a family of 10. His father worked in a steel mill. He graduated from Southwest State University and later studied drama at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.