Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Biography
Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (September 13, 1954 – December 30, 2025) was an American actor. He is most famous for his role on the HBO television series, The Wire as corrupt state senator Clay Davis. In 2011, Whitlock played an insurance agent named Ronald Wilkes in the film Cedar Rapids. Wilkes is a self-described fan of The Wire and does an impersonation of character Omar Little. Whitlock has said that the references to the series were written in before he became involved in Cedar Rapids.
He is also notable for appearing in Spike Lee films She Hate Me and 25th Hour as Agent Amos Flood. In all three projects, Whitlock established a catchphrase from his characters' distinct pronunciation of the word "shit" ("sheee-it").
He appeared as Eugine, a supporting role, in the 2003 film Pieces of April. He had a bit part in Goodfellas as a doctor who gives Henry Hill a Valium while attending to his brother. In 2007, he played Ethan Banks in Enchanted.
Whitlock made appearances on Chappelle's Show and played various characters on Law & Order and its' spinoff, Law & Order: SVU. He also appeared in promotional spots for the Wii video game Punch-Out!! portraying the character Doc Louis.
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Full filmography
- 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
- 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
- The Blacklist (2013) as Danny
- Hoppers (2026) as Bird King (voice)
- Lucifer (2016) as Carmen
- FBI (2018) as Richard Talmage
- The Good Wife (2009) as Ira Protopapas
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Crime Scene Detective
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Detective
- NYPD Blue (1993) as Anton Emery
- Elementary (2012) as Jack Brunelle
- Gotham (2014) as Gerry Lang
- The Wire (2002) as Clay Davis
- BoJack Horseman (2014) as C.E.O. (voice)
- Third Watch (1999) as Reggie Simmons
- GoodFellas (1990) as Doctor
- Veep (2012) as George Maddox