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Isaiah Whitlock Jr., Known for ‘The Wire,’ Dies at 71

Published December 31, 2025, 05:06
Isaiah Whitlock Jr., Known for ‘The Wire,’ Dies at 71

American actor Isaiah Whitlock Jr., best known for his role as the corrupt politician in the television series The Wire, has died at the age of 71. The news was announced by his artistic agent via an Instagram post. Whitlock Jr. had a long and successful career, with appearances in films by Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman, Da 5 Bloods), Martin Scorsese's GoodFellas, and Disney's Enchanted. He also lent his voice to Pixar animated films (Lightyear, Cars 3) and appeared in the series Veep. He was particularly beloved for his role in The Wire and his distinctive pronunciation of the word 'shit'.