Isiah Whitlock Jr., 'The Wire' Actor, Dies at 71

Isiah Whitlock Jr., the veteran actor celebrated for his portrayal of the corrupt state senator Clay Davis on HBO's The Wire, died Tuesday in New York City at the age of 71 after a brief illness.

His manager, Brian Liebman, confirmed the death to multiple outlets, sharing the news on social media. "It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr.," Liebman wrote. "If you knew him you loved him. 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." Liebman described Whitlock's passing as peaceful.

Born in 1952 in South Bend, Indiana, Whitlock initially pursued football on a scholarship at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he also studied theater. A series of injuries ended his athletic ambitions, leading him to focus on acting. He graduated in 1976 and moved to San Francisco to train at the American Conservatory Theater. His early screen work included a guest role on the CBS series Cagney & Lacey in 1987, followed by appearances in films such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch and Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, where he played a doctor.