- Actor Lance Reddick who played steely Baltimore police lieutenant Cedric Daniels in hit TV show The Wire has died, his publicist said Friday. He was 60.
- Reddick, who also appeared in the John Wick series of films opposite Keanu Reeves, was reportedly found dead at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.
- "We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague," John Wick director Chad Stahelski and co-star Reeves said in a statement.
Actor Lance Reddick who played steely Baltimore police lieutenant Cedric Daniels in hit TV show The Wire has died, his publicist said Friday. He was 60.
Reddick, who also appeared in the John Wick series of films opposite Keanu Reeves, was found dead at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, TMZ reported.
"Acclaimed actor Lance Reddick passed away suddenly this morning from natural causes," publicist Mia Hansen told AFP.
"Lance will be greatly missed."
Reddick rose to prominence in 2000 on the HBO prison drama Oz in which he played an undercover detective battling the drugs trade, but who soon gets drawn into addiction.
But it was for his role on The Wire that he became best known.
The HBO show, which ran for five seasons, followed a narcotics division pitting their wits against the city's powerful drug gangs.
With its complex writing and gritty casting, "The Wire" is often cited as one of the best ever TV shows.
It made household names of several of its stars, including Dominic West, Idris Elba, Wendell Pierce, Michael B. Jordan and the late Michael Kenneth Williams, who delivered one of the most singular performances in recent screen history as Omar Little.
After The Wire, Reddick was cast in John Wick as Charon, a concierge at a New York hotel who worked alongside Reeves' hitman.
Reeves and John Wick director Chad Stahelski told Variety they were mourning the loss of the cast member.
"We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague," a statement said.
"He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with."
Fellow The Wire star Pierce paid tribute on Twitter to "a man of great strength and grace. The epitome of class."
Reddick's death was a "sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here. RIP."
A man of great strength and grace. As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class. An sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here. RIP pic.twitter.com/Xy0pl5c4NR
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) March 17, 2023
Horror writer Stephen King tweeted that he had been halfway through re-watching The Wire.
"Wonderful actor; wonderful man. This is sad news," he wrote.
Halfway through re-watching THE WIRE comes the news that Lance Reddick has died at the horribly unfair age of 60. Wonderful actor; wonderful man. This is sad news.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 17, 2023
Performer Ben Stiller praised a "beautiful and compelling actor," recalling how Reddick had worked with his mother, Anne Meara, in a play.
"He was exquisite in that and all he did," he tweeted.
Lance Reddick was an beautiful and compelling actor. And a beautiful person. He worked with my mom Anne Meara in her play “Afterplay”, playing Raziel, the waiter slash angel of death. He was exquisite in that and all he did.
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) March 17, 2023
Nothing is lost. ??
HBO's corporate account wrote Reddick was "held in the highest regard by all who knew and worked with him and we are proud to be part of his legacy. He will be missed dearly."
Lance has been part of the HBO family for over 20 years, starring in several projects including iconic roles in Oz and The Wire. He is held in the highest regard by all who knew and worked with him and we are proud to be part of his legacy. He will be missed dearly. pic.twitter.com/Wf8Wbk36D6
— HBO (@HBO) March 17, 2023
Reddick is survived by his wife Stephanie Reddick, and children Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick, his publicist said.