Spike Lee paid tribute to his longtime collaborator Isaiah Whitlock Jr., who died on Tuesday at the age of 71 in New York.
Lee shared a photo of herself and Whitlock on Instagram on Tuesday, writing, “Today I learned that my beloved brother Isiah Whitlock has passed away. God bless you.”
Whitlock had bit parts in several of Lee’s films, including “Red Hook Summer,” “She Rak,” “She Hate Me,” and “The 25th Hour.” His two major roles in Lee’s filmography are Da 5 Bloods, in which he played Vietnam veteran Melvin alongside Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clark Peters, and Norm Lewis, and BlacKkKlansman, in which he played police officer Mr. Turrentine, alongside Alec Baldwin, John David Washington, and Robert John Burke.
Whitlock’s manager, Brian Liebman, shared the news of his death in an Instagram post. “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend and client Isaiah Whitlock Jr.. If you knew him, you loved him. A great actor and an even greater person. May his memory be a blessing forever. Our hearts are so broken. He will be sorely missed.”
Whitlock is best known for playing twisted state senator Clay Davis on The Wire. He also had a recurring role in seasons 2 through 4 of Veep as Secretary of Defense George Maddox, who ran against Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Selina Meyer in the 2016 primary election.
The Indiana-born character actor also appeared in bit roles on Goodfellas, Chappelle’s Show, Pieces of April, Enchanted, Cars 3, and Lightyear. His voice can be heard in Pixar’s “Hoppers,” scheduled for release in 2026.
