Lance Reddick, the actor best known for his roles in popular TV shows like The Wire and John Wick movies, has passed away at the age of 60 due to natural causes. Reddick had a passion for music and classical composition and was a graduate of Yale University’s drama school. He had a recurring role on CBS’s Intelligence and portrayed Papa Legba on American Horror Story: Coven. Reddick’s death was confirmed by his publicist, and tributes poured in from his co-stars, friends, and fans. He is survived by his wife and children. The Baltimore-born actor had his breakthrough role on season four of “Oz,” where he played a doomed undercover officer sent to prison who becomes an addict.
Lance Reddick, Star of John Wick and The Wire, Passes Away at 60
Lance Reddick, known for his roles in hit movies and TV shows like John Wick, The Wire, and Fringe, passed away at the age of 60 on March 17, according to his publicist Mia Hansen. Reddick was a character actor who was widely recognised for his portrayal of intense and intimidating authority figures on screen.
Reddick’s sudden death was announced by his publicist, who attributed it to natural causes. No further details were given. Tributes poured in from Reddick’s co-stars, friends, and fans. Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on The Wire, took to Twitter to pay his respects. “A man of great strength and grace,” Pierce wrote. “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class.”
Chad Stahelski, the director of John Wick – Chapter Four, and Keanu Reeves, the film’s star, expressed their sadness at Reddick’s passing and dedicated the movie to him. Reddick played the character of Charon, the multi-skilled Continental Hotel concierge, in the John Wick movies, including the upcoming fourth installment that releases later this month.
Reddick was widely known for his portrayal of tall, taciturn, and elegant men of distinction who often wore suits or crisp uniforms. He was best known for his role as Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series The Wire, where his character was caught up in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department.
David Simon, the creator of The Wire, praised Reddick’s professionalism and his gentle nature. “Consummate professional, devoted collaborator, lovely and gentle man, loyal friend,” Simon tweeted. “This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon.”
Reddick was also known for his roles in other popular TV shows like Fringe, Lost, and American Horror Story. He played recurring roles on Intelligence and Bosch during their respective runs. In 2021, Reddick earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film One Night in Miami.
Reddick’s upcoming projects included 20th Century’s remake of White Men Can’t Jump and Shirley, Netflix’s biopic of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. He was also set to appear in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.
In a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Reddick spoke about his passion for acting and how he knew he had to work hard to be noticed as a Black man who wasn’t conventionally handsome. “I’m an artist at heart,” Reddick said. “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’s legacy as a talented actor with an impressive body of work will be remembered by his fans and the entertainment industry for years to come.
Lance Reddick: The Journey of an Actor from Baltimore to Hollywood
Lance Reddick, a Baltimore-born actor, studied at Yale University’s drama school before landing guest roles in hit TV shows like CSI: Miami and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also appeared in movies like I Dreamed of Africa, The Siege, and Great Expectations.
It was his role as a doomed undercover officer on season four of “Oz” that gave Reddick his breakthrough moment. He told The Associated Press in 2011 that he was never interested in television and saw it only as a means to an end. However, “Oz” changed the game for him, and he realized that he had to be on “The Wire.”
Reddick also had a passion for music, having attended the Eastman School of Music, where he studied classical composition and played the piano. He released his first album, Contemplations and Remembrances, in 2011, which was a jazz-inspired collection.
Reddick appeared on numerous hit TV shows like American Horror Story: Coven, where he portrayed Papa Legba, the go-between between humanity and the spirit world. He also had a recurring role as Jeffrey Tetazoo, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, on the CBS series Intelligence.
Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and his children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.
Reddick’s death was first reported by TMZ.com.
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