Lance Reddick, a character actor renowned for his portrayal of intense and possibly sinister authority figures in TV and film, including "The Wire," "Fringe," and the "John Wick" series, has passed away at the age of 60.
His publicist, Mia Hansen, stated that he died suddenly on Friday morning from natural causes. The news was initially reported by TMZ.com.
Following the announcement of his death, social media was flooded with tributes from colleagues and fans. Filmmaker James Gunn described Reddick as "an incredibly talented actor" and "an incredibly nice guy" in a tweet. Wendell Pierce, Reddick's co-star on "The Wire," also paid tribute on Twitter, referring to him as "a man of great strength and grace" and "the epitome of class."
Throughout his career, Reddick frequently played tall, elegant, and taciturn men of distinction, often donning a suit or a crisp uniform. He is most recognized for his role as the straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the critically acclaimed HBO series "The Wire," in which his character was caught in the tumultuous politics of the Baltimore police department.
He was found dead at his Studio City home in Los Angeles Friday morning, according to TMZ, which first reported the news.
In the upcoming “John Wick: Chapter 4,” which is set to release in theaters on March 24, Reddick reprises his role as Charon, the concierge at the Continental Hotel in New York City who appeared in all four entries. Charon worked alongside Keanu Reeve’s un-retired hitman, notably looking after John’s new dog in the second installment and joining in on the gun-toting action in the third movie. Reddick was also slated to appear in the upcoming “Ballerina” spinoff, starring Ana de Armas.
“The world of Wick would not be what it is without Lance Reddick and the unparalleled depth he brought to Charon’s humanity and unflappable charisma,” Lionsgate said in a statement. “Lance leaves behind an indelible legacy and hugely impressive body of work, but we will remember him as our lovely, joyful friend and Concierge. We’re stunned and heartbroken, and our deepest condolences go to his beloved family and his fans all around the world.”
Born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 7, 1962, Reddick was best known for his performances as tough police chiefs. He received his Bachelor of Music after studying music composition at the University of Rochester and later earned a Master of Fine Arts from Yale in 1994. In the 1980s, he moved to Boston to pursue his career.
Reddick's first major TV role was in the fourth season of HBO's "Oz" in 2000. He portrayed Detective Johnny Basil, an undercover officer who becomes addicted to drugs and eventually murders a corrupt cop before being sent to prison. Reddick's character met his demise in the series when he was fatally stabbed by Clayton Hughes, played by Seth Gilliam.
Following his role on "Oz," Reddick was cast as Baltimore police lieutenant Cedric Daniels, one of the leads, on HBO's critically acclaimed series "The Wire" in 2002. Although he originally auditioned for other roles, such as Bubbles and William "Bunk" Moreland, he was ultimately selected for the role of Daniels. During the show's five seasons, he was in charge of the narcotics division and faced frequent clashes with his superiors. In the series finale, he resigned from his post as commissioner and became a criminal defense lawyer.
After the conclusion of "The Wire" in 2008, Reddick joined the cast of "Fringe" as Phillip Broyles, a special agent for Homeland Security and the head of the Fringe division, which investigated cases relating to fringe science, pseudoscience, and alternate timelines. He later played deputy chief Irvin Irving, another police chief, in Amazon's "Bosch" series from 2014 to 2021, earning a nomination for a Saturn Award for his performance. Reddick received two prior nominations for his role in "Fringe."
Throughout his nearly 30-year career, he also appeared in “Lost,” “CSI: Miami,” “American Horror Story: Coven,” “The Blacklist,” “One Night in Miami,” “Angel Has Fallen” and “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick. Donations in his memory can be made to momcares.org in Baltimore, his hometown.