‘The Wire’ Actors Wendell Pierce & Isiah Whitlock Jr. Remember Co-star Lance Reddick As Hollywood Pays Tribute
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Refresh for updates… The Wire actors Wendell Pierce and Isiah Whitlock Jr. and creator-EP David Simon are among the Hollywood colleagues, friends and fans paying tribute to John Wick and The Wire star Lance Reddick, who died today at 60.
“A man of great strength and grace,” writes The Wire co-star Wendell Pierce. “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class. 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”
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“Shocked and saddened by the news that Lance Reddick has passed away,” Whitlock writes. “Truly heartbreaking. R.I.P. My friend. You will be missed. God speed.”
Simon, who created The Wire and The Corner, an earlier HBO crime drama in which Reddick appeared, said: “A consummate professional, a devoted collaborator, a lovely soul and a friend. This is just gutting and way, way, way too soon for any of us who knew and loved him to contemplate.”
A spokesperson for HBO said today: “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.”
Among others paying tribute are Kirk Acevedo (who co-starred with Reddick in Oz and Fringe), Ben Stiller, Stephen King, Reggie Watkins and Terry Kinney. See their comments below.
Reddick died this morning of natural causes at the age of 60. Reddick played Charon in the John Wick film franchise and was a series regular on The Wire, Fringe and Bosch.
“Lance Reddick was a beautiful and compelling actor,” tweeted Ben Stiller. “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.”
“Lance Reddick was an incredibly nice guy, and an incredibly talented actor,” said Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. “This is heartbreaking. My love goes out to all his family, friends, and collaborators.”
“I can’t take it no more,” tweeted Questlove. “rip Lance Reddick.”
Jake Fogelnest, a writer on the 2018-2020 series Corporate that featured Reddick, wrote,”Deeply sad to hear of the passing of Lance Reddick. An incredibly joyful human being and incredible actor. Working with him on ‘Corporate’”’ was a masterclass. My deepest sympathies to his family and everyone who was touched by his presence.”
Read the tributes to Reddick below. Deadline will update this post as additional remembrances are posted.