Isiah Whitlock Jr., the actor known for his roles in The Wire and Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods, has died at age 71.
Whitlock's manager Brian Liebman announced the actor's death in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Dec. 30, describing the late star as "a brilliant actor and even better person."
"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," Liebman wrote. "A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed."
Whitlock died "peacefully" following a "short illness," Liebman told Deadline.
The actor is perhaps best known, though, for his portrayal of the fictional Maryland State Senator Clay Davis, a corrupt politician with an instantly recognizable catchphrase -- a comically exaggerated pronunciation of "s--t."
Whitlock later said that he was sometimes "stopped on the street two to three times per day" by fans who wanted to hear him say the phrase, Variety reported.
In addition to his television work, which also included a recent stint on the HBO series Veep, Whitlock also appeared in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, 2023's Cocaine Bear, and Pieces of April, among other films.
In a post to the official Liebman Entertainment Instagram account, Whitlock was remembered as "a member of our family," with an "unforgettable presence" and "zest for life."
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"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of a member of our family, Isiah Whitlock Jr.," the post's caption reads. "He will be deeply missed for his zest for life and the unforgettable presence he brought to the screen. May his talent and legacy always be remembered."