Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Born: 1954-09-13 in South Bend, Indiana, USA
Died: 2025-12-30
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2026
- Hoppers as Bird King (voice)
2025
- The Residence as Larry Dokes
2023
- Cocaine Bear as Bob
2021
- I Care a Lot as Judge Lomax
- History of Swear Words as Self
2020
- Your Honor as Charlie Figaro
- Woke as Mr. Jackson
- Da 5 Bloods as Melvin
- The Lost Husband as Russ McAllen
- Sloan Hearts Neckface as Lester
2019
- Lying and Stealing as Lyman
- Corporate Animals as Derek
- Run with the Hunted as Lester
- Lost Holiday as Officer Matthews
- Seneca as Michael
2018
- FBI as Richard Talmage
- Apple & Onion as Mayor Naise (voice)
- BlacKkKlansman as Mr. Turrentine
- The Good Cop as Burl Loomis
- The Old Man & the Gun as Detective Gene Dentler
- All Square as Scotty
2017
- Cars 3 as River Scott (voice)
- The Mist as Gus Bradley
- CHiPs as Peterson
- She's Gotta Have It as Dog #10
- Person to Person as Buster
2016
- Lucifer as Carmen
- Atlanta as Raleigh Marks
- Pete's Dragon as Sheriff Gene Dentler
2015
- The Carmichael Show as Reverend Carlson
- Chi-Raq as Bacchos
2014
- Gotham as Gerry Lang
- BoJack Horseman as C.E.O. (voice)
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn as Yates
- 23 Blast as Dr. Connelly
2013
- The Blacklist as Danny
- Europa Report as Dr. Pamuk
- Lucky 7 as Bob Harris
- Thanks for Sharing as Charles
- Lucas Bros. Moving Co. as Mr. Dream
- Home as Samuel
- Newlyweeds as Philly
- Jerome's Bouquet as Jack
2012
- Elementary as Jack Brunelle
- Veep as George Maddox
- Smash as Ronald Strickland
- Why Stop Now? as Black
- Red Hook Summer as Detective Flood
- Not Fade Away as Landers
2011
- Detachment as Mr. Mathias
- Cedar Rapids as Ronald Wilkes
- Gun Hill Road as Officer Thompson
2010
- Brooklyn's Finest as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
- Twelve as Detective Dumont
- Main Street as Mayor
2009
- The Good Wife as Ira Protopapas
- The Unusuals
- I Hate Valentine's Day as Drummer
- Under New Management as Rev. A.L. Blunton
2008
- New Amsterdam as Joe Williams
- Cadillac Records as Mississippi DJ
- Choke as Detective Palmer
2007
- Enchanted as Ethan Banks
- 1408 as Hotel Engineer
- The Wire Odyssey as Self
2006
- Kettle of Fish as Freddie
- Beautiful Ohio as Mr. Lebreaux
2005
- Duane Hopwood as William
- Stealing Martin Lane as Chopper
2004
- The Jury
- She Hate Me as Amos Flood
- A Jersey Tale as Mr. Stubbs
2003
- Pieces of April as Eugene
2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Crime Scene Detective
- WW3
- Jump Tomorrow as George's Uncle
2000
- Ed as Tim Unger
- Wonderland as Dr. Mohyuddin
- Madigan Men
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Robbery Division Captain
- Third Watch as Reggie Simmons
- A Fish in the Bathtub as Rudy
- Harlem Aria as Manny
1997
- Liberty! as Luke - Slave
- The Spanish Prisoner as Trooper
1996
- Everyone Says I Love You as Cop
- Eddie as Rick
1993
- NYPD Blue as Anton Emery
1990
- Law & Order as Gordon Samuels
- GoodFellas as Doctor
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch as Fireman
1989
- Oceano as The Moose
1981
- A Christmas Carol as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest