Overview
- Manager Brian Liebman confirmed the death on Instagram and to multiple outlets, noting a short illness but offering no specific cause.
- Whitlock’s defining TV role was State Sen. Clay Davis across all five seasons of HBO’s The Wire, where writers embraced his signature delivery of “sheeeeeit.”
- He was a longtime Spike Lee collaborator, appearing in six films including 25th Hour, She Hate Me, BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods.
- Recent work included a series-regular turn as the chief of police in Netflix’s The Residence, with a posthumous voice role set for Pixar/Disney’s Hoppers in 2026.
- Tributes surfaced quickly, with Spike Lee calling him “My Dear Beloved Brother” on social media and The Wire creator David Simon posting a remembrance image.