18th March 2023 – (Los Angeles) Lance Reddick, a highly respected character actor known for his portrayal of intense and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, has passed away at the age of 60. His publicist, Mia Hansen, confirmed that he died “suddenly” on Friday morning, March 17, due to natural causes.
Throughout his illustrious career, Reddick delivered commanding performances as elegant and taciturn men of distinction, often donning suits or crisp uniforms. He is perhaps best known for his role as the strait-laced Lt Cedric Daniels in the HBO hit series The Wire, where he portrayed a character agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department.
His fellow cast members and colleagues in the entertainment industry have been quick to pay tribute to the late actor. Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on The Wire, took to Twitter to praise his friend, calling him “a man of great strength and grace” who was “the epitome of class.” Meanwhile, the director and star of John Wick – Chapter Four, Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves, respectively, announced that they would be dedicating the upcoming film to Reddick and expressed deep sadness at his passing.
Reddick’s remarkable talent and professionalism garnered praise from his collaborators and colleagues in the industry. David Simon, the creator of The Wire, hailed Reddick as a “consummate professional” and “devoted collaborator” who was also a “lovely and gentle man” and a loyal friend. Reddick himself spoke about his work in the entertainment industry, saying, “I’m an artist at heart. I feel that I’m very good at what I do. When I went to drama school, I knew I was at least as talented as other students, but because I was a Black man and I wasn’t pretty, I knew I would have to work my butt off to be the best that I would be, and to be noticed,” in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2009.
Reddick’s career was full of notable roles, including his portrayal of special agent Phillip Broyles in the Fox series Fringe, the smartly-dressed Matthew Abaddon in Lost, and the multi-skilled Continental Hotel concierge Charon in Lionsgate’s John Wick movies. His upcoming projects included 20th Century’s remake of White Men Can’t Jump and Shirley, Netflix’s biopic of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, as well as the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.
Reddick earned a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination in 2021 as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film One Night in Miami. He played recurring roles on Intelligence and American Horror Story and was a regular cast member on the show Bosch throughout its seven-year run.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Reddick graduated from Yale University’s drama school and enjoyed some success in guest or recurring roles on CSI: Miami and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also appeared in several movies, including I Dreamed of Africa, The Siege, and Great Expectations. It was on season four of Oz, playing a doomed undercover officer sent to prison who becomes an addict, that Reddick had a career breakthrough.
Reddick was not only a gifted actor but also a talented musician, having attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he studied classical composition and played piano. His first album, the jazzy Contemplations and Remembrances, was released in 2011.
Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.