Overview
- Manager Brian Liebman confirmed the death in a public message, saying Whitlock died peacefully after a short illness and offering no additional medical details.
- Tributes flowed from collaborators including Spike Lee and The Wire creator David Simon, with HBO and entertainment trades also honoring his career.
- Whitlock was best known for playing Maryland state senator R. Clayton “Clay” Davis on HBO’s The Wire, popularizing his distinctive elongated exclamation that became a cultural touchstone.
- He was a frequent Spike Lee collaborator with roles in 25th Hour, She Hate Me, Red Hook Summer, Chi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods, alongside a broad TV résumé including Veep and Your Honor.
- Recent and posthumous work includes Netflix’s The Residence and a reported voice role in Pixar’s Hoppers slated for 2026, with most outlets listing his age as 71 while at least one reported 70.