Isiah Whitlock Jr, the American actor whose commanding presence and unmistakable delivery made him a television standout, died on December 31 at the age of 71. He was best known for his iconic role as the silver-tongued, corrupt State Senator Clay Davis on HBO’s The Wire, a performance that earned cult status among fans and remains one of the show’s most quoted portrayals. Whitlock’s death was confirmed by his manager, Brian Liebman, who wrote in a heartfelt social media tribute, “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.”
