Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Acting • Born 1954-09-13 – Died 2025-12-30
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
107 credits
Pieces of April
Movie • 2003
Eugene
Kettle of Fish
Movie • 2006
Freddie
Gun Hill Road
Movie • 2011
Officer Thompson
Cedar Rapids
Movie • 2011
Ronald Wilkes
Detachment
Movie • 2011
Mr. Mathias
Lightyear
Movie • 2022
Commander Burnside (voice)
Harlem Aria
Movie • 1999
Manny
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
Movie • 2014
Yates
Thanks for Sharing
Movie • 2013
Charles
Jump Tomorrow
Movie • 2001
George's Uncle
Why Stop Now?
Movie • 2012
Black
Triggered
Movie • 2022
Ohio
Newlyweeds
Movie • 2013
Philly
WW3
Movie • 2001
The Wire Odyssey
Movie • 2007
Self
Home
Movie • 2013
Samuel
Cocaine Bear
Movie • 2023
Bob
Eddie
Movie • 1996
Rick
Seneca
Movie • 2019
Michael
25th Hour
Movie • 2002
Agent Flood
Lost Holiday
Movie • 2019
Officer Matthews
A Jersey Tale
Movie • 2004
Mr. Stubbs
Main Street
Movie • 2010
Mayor
Pete's Dragon
Movie • 2016
Sheriff Gene Dentler
Europa Report
Movie • 2013
Dr. Pamuk
GoodFellas
Movie • 1990
Doctor
Cadillac Records
Movie • 2008
Mississippi DJ
Chi-Raq
Movie • 2015
Bacchos
Red Hook Summer
Movie • 2012
Detective Flood
Person to Person
Movie • 2017
Buster
Everyone Says I Love You
Movie • 1996
Cop
Duane Hopwood
Movie • 2005
William
Twelve
Movie • 2010
Detective Dumont
Beautiful Ohio
Movie • 2006
Mr. Lebreaux
1408
Movie • 2007
Hotel Engineer
The Old Man & the Gun
Movie • 2018
Detective Gene Dentler
Not Fade Away
Movie • 2012
Landers
23 Blast
Movie • 2014
Dr. Connelly
Choke
Movie • 2008
Detective Palmer
CHiPs
Movie • 2017
Peterson
All Square
Movie • 2018
Scotty
BlacKkKlansman
Movie • 2018
Mr. Turrentine
She Hate Me
Movie • 2004
Amos Flood
The Spanish Prisoner
Movie • 1997
Trooper
Corporate Animals
Movie • 2019
Derek
A Christmas Carol
Movie • 1981
Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest
Da 5 Bloods
Movie • 2020
Melvin
I Care a Lot
Movie • 2021
Judge Lomax
Lying and Stealing
Movie • 2019
Lyman
Cars 3
Movie • 2017
River Scott (voice)
The Lost Husband
Movie • 2020
Russ McAllen
Brooklyn's Finest
Movie • 2010
Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
Enchanted
Movie • 2007
Ethan Banks
A Fish in the Bathtub
Movie • 1999
Rudy
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Movie • 1990
Fireman
Jerome's Bouquet
Movie • 2013
Jack
Sloan Hearts Neckface
Movie • 2020
Lester
Run with the Hunted
Movie • 2019
Lester
The Body Is Water
Movie
Alexander Wilkins
Charity Case
Movie • 2016
Ronald
Hoppers
Movie • 2026
Bird King (voice)
Stealing Martin Lane
Movie • 2005
Chopper
I Hate Valentine's Day
Movie • 2009
Drummer
Under New Management
Movie • 2009
Rev. A.L. Blunton
Third Watch
TV • 1999
Reggie Simmons
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Gordon Samuels
The Wire
TV • 2002
Clay Davis
New Amsterdam
TV • 2008
Joe Williams
Ed
TV • 2000
Tim Unger
NYPD Blue
TV • 1993
Anton Emery
Your Honor
TV • 2020
Charlie Figaro
Madigan Men
TV • 2000
The Jury
TV • 2004
The Unusuals
TV • 2009
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Robbery Division Captain
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Todd Smythe
The Blacklist
TV • 2013
Danny
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Crime Scene Detective
Lucky 7
TV • 2013
Bob Harris
Lucifer
TV • 2016
Carmen
Elementary
TV • 2012
Jack Brunelle
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Captain Reece
The Mist
TV • 2017
Gus Bradley
Gotham
TV • 2014
Gerry Lang
Oceano
TV • 1989
The Moose
The Carmichael Show
TV • 2015
Reverend Carlson
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Antony White
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Simon Brooks
The Residence
TV • 2025
Larry Dokes
History of Swear Words
TV • 2021
Self
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Fred Oakes
The Good Cop
TV • 2018
Burl Loomis
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Captain Navarro
Apple & Onion
TV • 2018
Mayor Naise (voice)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Detective
FBI
TV • 2018
Richard Talmage
Liberty!
TV • 1997
Luke - Slave
Veep
TV • 2012
George Maddox
Smash
TV • 2012
Ronald Strickland
She's Gotta Have It
TV • 2017
Dog #10
Woke
TV • 2020
Mr. Jackson
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
NTCC Representative
BoJack Horseman
TV • 2014
C.E.O. (voice)
The Good Wife
TV • 2009
Ira Protopapas
Wonderland
TV • 2000
Dr. Mohyuddin
Atlanta
TV • 2016
Raleigh Marks
Lucas Bros. Moving Co.
TV • 2013
Mr. Dream