Lance Reddick, known for his roles in the HBO police drama “The Wire” and the action films “John Wick,” has died, according to his representative Mia Hansen. He was 60.
Hansen said in a statement that the actor died suddenly Friday morning of natural causes.
In the “John Wick” franchise, Reddick played Charon, the concierge of the Continental hotel organization that houses assassins. The fourth installment of the series, starring Keanu Reeves, is set to be released next week.
Throughout his career, Reddick was frequently cast in suits or crisp uniforms as a tall, taciturn, and elegant men of distinction. He was best known for his portrayal of straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on “The Wire,” where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department, which was Reddick’s hometown.
Wendell Pierce, his “The Wire” co-star, described Reddick’s death as “painful grief for our artistic family” in a Twitter post.
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
Reddick was described as “an incredibly nice guy, and an incredibly talented actor” by filmmaker James Gunn in a tweet.
Reddick also appeared as special agent Phillip Broyles on the Fox series “Fringe,” and as the well-dressed Matthew Abaddon on “Lost.”
“At heart, I’m an artist. I believe I am very good at what I do. When I went to drama school, I knew I was just as talented as the other students, but because I was a Black man and not particularly attractive, I knew I’d have to work my tail off to be the best that I could be and to be noticed “In 2009, he told the Los Angeles Times.
Lance Reddick was an incredibly nice guy, and an incredibly talented actor. This is heartbreaking. My love goes out to all his family, friends, and collaborators.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 17, 2023
In 2021, he was nominated for a SAG Award as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film “One Night in Miami.” Reddick appeared in recurring roles on “Intelligence,” “American Horror Story,” and “Bosch” for seven years.
His upcoming projects include a remake of “White Men Can’t Jump” for 20th Century Fox and “Shirley,” a Netflix biopic of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. He was also set to appear in “Ballerina,” a spinoff of “John Wick,” as well as “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.”
Reddick graduated from Yale University’s drama school and found success after graduation with guest or recurring roles on “CSI: Miami” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He also appeared in a number of films, including “I Dreamed of Africa” “The Siege.” and “Great Expectations.”
Reddick had a career breakthrough in season four of “Oz,” playing a doomed undercover officer sent to prison who becomes an addict.
“I never watched television. I always saw it as a means to an end. Like many actors, I was only interested in theater and film. But ‘Oz’ changed television. It marked the beginning of HBO’s reign over quality, edgy, artistic programming. “Stuff that harkens back to the great cinema of the 1960s and 1970s,” he told The Associated Press in 2011.
“When the opportunity for ‘Oz’ came up, I jumped. And when I read the pilot for ‘The Wire,’ I was a guy who never wanted to be on television, I realized I had to be on this show.”
Reddick studied classical composition and played the piano at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. His debut album, “Contemplations and Remembrances,” was released in 2011.
On CBS’ “Intelligence,” Reddick played Jeffrey Tetazoo, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Reddick portrayed Papa Legba on “American Horror Story: Coven,” the intermediary between humanity and the spirit world.
His wife Stephanie Reddick and children Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick survive him.
