Isiah Whitlock Jr., 'The Wire' and 'Veep' actor, dies at 71

Isiah Whitlock Jr., the actor known for his role as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on The Wire, has died at the age of 71, Variety confirmed.

His manager, Brian Liebman, shared the news on Instagram, writing, “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 even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed.”

Born in Indiana, Whitlock was a prolific character actor and a frequent collaborator with director Spike Lee, appearing in films including BlacKkKlansman, Da 5 Bloods, She Hate Me, 25th Hour, Red Hook Summer and Chi-Raq.

Across many of his projects, he popularised the catchphrase “sheeeeee-it,” which began in She Hate Me and 25th Hour and was later incorporated into The Wire. Fans often recognised him on the street for this catchphrase, which he also referenced in the 2011 comedy Cedar Rapids.

Whitlock’s career included roles in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, Chappelle’s Show, Pieces of April, Enchanted, and Pixar films Cars 3 and Lightyear. He also voiced a character in Pixar’s upcoming animated sci-fi comedy Hoppers, set for release in 2026.

In television, Whitlock played George Maddox, U.S. Secretary of Defense, in Seasons 2 through 4 of Veep, where his character ran against Selina Meyer, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in the 2016 primaries.

Whitlock’s body of work, both on screen and in voice acting, earned him a devoted following and left a lasting impact on television and film. His contributions, particularly as Clay Davis in The Wire, remain widely recognised and celebrated by fans and colleagues alike.