Reddick, 60, dies suddenly
The entertainment industry is remembering
Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” “Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise.
Reddick, 60, died suddenly Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said, attributing his death to natural causes.
Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on “The Wire” paid tribute on Twitter. “A man of great strength and grace,” he wrote. “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class.”
“John Wick — Chapter Four” director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves said they were dedicating the upcoming film to Reddick and were “deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss.”
Reddick was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series “The Wire,” where his character was trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department.
“The Wire” creator
David Simon praised Reddick on Twitter: “Consummate professional, devoted collaborator, lovely and gentle man, loyal friend. Could go on, but no, I can’t go on. This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon.”
“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,” Reddick told the Los Angeles Times in 2009.
Reddick also starred on the Fox series “Fringe” as a special agent Phillip Broyles, the smartlydressed Matthew Abaddon on “Lost” and played Continental Hotel concierge Charon in Lionsgate’s “John Wick” movies, including the fourth that releases later this month.
“Lance leaves behind an indelible legacy and hugely impressive body of work, but we will remember him as our lovely, joyful friend and Concierge,” Lionsgate said in a statement.
Reddick earned a 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 on the show “Bosch” for its seven-year run.
His upcoming projects include 20th Century’s remake of “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Shirley,” Netflix’s biopic of former Rep. Shirley Chisholm. He was also slated to appear in the “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina,” as well as “The Caine Mutiny CourtMartial.”
The Baltimore-bornand-raised Reddick was a Yale University drama school graduate who after school landed TV guest or recurring roles and appeared in several movies.
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 attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music. His first album, the jazzy “Contemplations and Remembrances,” came out in 2011.
Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.