Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Biography
Isiah Whitlock Jr. was an American actor born on September 13, 1954, in South Bend, Indiana. He passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 71. Whitlock was most famous for his role on the HBO television series The Wire, where he portrayed corrupt state senator Clay Davis. His film work included appearing as an insurance agent named Ronald Wilkes in the 2011 film Cedar Rapids, as well as roles in Spike Lee films such as She Hate Me and 25th Hour, in which he played Agent Amos Flood. Over his career, he accumulated 98 known acting credits. His birth name and professional names were Isiah Whitlock Jr., with Isaiah also listed as an alternative name.
Career overview
Isiah Whitlock Jr. was an American actor born on September 13, 1954, in South Bend, Indiana. Throughout his career, he accumulated 98 known acting credits. He became most famous for his role on the HBO television series The Wire, where he portrayed corrupt state senator Clay Davis.
In 2011, Whitlock appeared in the film Cedar Rapids as an insurance agent named Ronald Wilkes, a character who is a self-described fan of The Wire and performs an impersonation of the character Omar Little. Whitlock noted that the references to the series were written into the script before he became involved in the project.
Whitlock was also notable for his appearances in Spike Lee films, including She Hate Me and 25th Hour, in which he played Agent Amos Flood. across these projects, Whitlock established a catchphrase through his characters distinct pronunciation of a word. He passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 71.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Hoppers (2026) as Bird King (voice)
- The Residence (2025) as Larry Dokes
- Cocaine Bear (2023) as Bob
- Lightyear (2022) as Commander Burnside (voice)
- Triggered (2022) as Ohio
- I Care a Lot (2021) as Judge Lomax
- History of Swear Words (2021) as Self
- Your Honor (2020) as Charlie Figaro
- Woke (2020) as Mr. Jackson
- The Lost Husband (2020) as Russ McAllen
- Da 5 Bloods (2020) as Melvin
- Sloan Hearts Neckface (2020) as Lester
- Lying and Stealing (2019) as Lyman
- Corporate Animals (2019) as Derek
- Run with the Hunted (2019) as Lester
- Lost Holiday (2019) as Officer Matthews
- Seneca (2019) as Michael
- FBI (2018) as Richard Talmage
- Apple & Onion (2018) as Mayor Naise (voice)
- BlacKkKlansman (2018) as Mr. Turrentine
- The Good Cop (2018) as Burl Loomis
- The Old Man & the Gun (2018) as Detective Gene Dentler
- All Square (2018) as Scotty
- Cars 3 (2017) as River Scott (voice)
- The Mist (2017) as Gus Bradley
- She's Gotta Have It (2017) as Dog #10
- CHiPs (2017) as Peterson
- Person to Person (2017) as Buster
- Lucifer (2016) as Carmen
- Atlanta (2016) as Raleigh Marks
- Pete's Dragon (2016) as Sheriff Gene Dentler
- The Carmichael Show (2015) as Reverend Carlson
- Chi-Raq (2015) as Bacchos
- Gotham (2014) as Gerry Lang
- BoJack Horseman (2014) as C.E.O. (voice)
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014) as Yates
- 23 Blast (2014) as Dr. Connelly
- The Blacklist (2013) as Danny
- Europa Report (2013) as Dr. Pamuk
- Lucas Bros. Moving Co. (2013) as Mr. Dream
- Thanks for Sharing (2013) as Charles
- Lucky 7 (2013) as Bob Harris
- Home (2013) as Samuel
- Jerome's Bouquet (2013) as Jack
- Newlyweeds (2013) as Philly
- Elementary (2012) as Jack Brunelle
- Veep (2012) as George Maddox
- Smash (2012) as Ronald Strickland
- Red Hook Summer (2012) as Detective Flood
- Why Stop Now? (2012) as Black
- Not Fade Away (2012) as Landers
- Detachment (2011) as Mr. Mathias
- Cedar Rapids (2011) as Ronald Wilkes
- Gun Hill Road (2011) as Officer Thompson
- Brooklyn's Finest (2010) as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
- Main Street (2010) as Mayor
- Twelve (2010) as Detective Dumont
- The Good Wife (2009) as Ira Protopapas
- The Unusuals (2009)
- I Hate Valentine's Day (2009) as Drummer
- Under New Management (2009) as Rev. A.L. Blunton
- New Amsterdam (2008) as Joe Williams
- Cadillac Records (2008) as Mississippi DJ
- Choke (2008) as Detective Palmer
- Enchanted (2007) as Ethan Banks
- 1408 (2007) as Hotel Engineer
- The Wire Odyssey (2007) as Self
- Beautiful Ohio (2006) as Mr. Lebreaux
- Kettle of Fish (2006) as Freddie
- Stealing Martin Lane (2005) as Chopper
- Duane Hopwood (2005) as William
- The Jury (2004)
- She Hate Me (2004) as Amos Flood
- A Jersey Tale (2004) as Mr. Stubbs
- Pieces of April (2003) as Eugene
- The Wire (2002) as Clay Davis
- 25th Hour (2002) as Agent Flood
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Crime Scene Detective
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Detective
- Jump Tomorrow (2001) as George's Uncle
- WW3 (2001)
- Ed (2000) as Tim Unger
- Wonderland (2000) as Dr. Mohyuddin
- Madigan Men (2000)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Robbery Division Captain
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Todd Smythe
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Captain Reece
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as NTCC Representative
- Third Watch (1999) as Reggie Simmons
- A Fish in the Bathtub (1999) as Rudy
- Harlem Aria (1999) as Manny
- Liberty! (1997) as Luke - Slave
- The Spanish Prisoner (1997) as Trooper
- Everyone Says I Love You (1996) as Cop
- Eddie (1996) as Rick
- NYPD Blue (1993) as Anton Emery
- Law & Order (1990) as Gordon Samuels
- Law & Order (1990) as Antony White
- Law & Order (1990) as Simon Brooks
- Law & Order (1990) as Fred Oakes
- Law & Order (1990) as Captain Navarro
- GoodFellas (1990) as Doctor
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) as Fireman
- Oceano (1989) as The Moose
- A Christmas Carol (1981) as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest
- The Body Is Water as Alexander Wilkins