“John Wick” and “The Wire” actor, Lance Reddick, has passed away at the age of 60, according to his representative, Mia Hansen. Hansen revealed that Reddick passed away suddenly on Friday morning due to natural causes, and said that he “will be greatly missed.” Reddick was known for his captivating presence and intensity on screen, and began his acting career in the ‘90s, with appearances in shows such as “New York Undercover” and “The West Wing.”
Hansen revealed that Reddick passed away suddenly on Friday morning due to natural causes, and said that he “will be greatly missed.”
In an interview with The Guardian, Reddick revealed that he had initially intended to become a musician as a teenager in Baltimore, but turned to acting as a means of supporting his family and laying a foundation for a music career. He started getting roles in regional theater before being accepted to study drama at Yale University at the age of 29, from where he graduated.
When he first arrived in New York, Lance Reddick auditioned for David Simon’s HBO miniseries, “The Corner,” which preceded “The Wire” by two years, but did not land a role. He did, however, secure his first regular part on the HBO series “Oz,” portraying an undercover detective posing as a prisoner. Reddick’s big break came when Simon cast him as Narcotics Unit Lt. Daniels on “The Wire,” a role that garnered critical acclaim and solidified Reddick as a rising star in the industry.
Despite the show’s slow start and lack of industry recognition, Reddick believed in its potential from the start. As he told The Guardian in an interview, “I thought it would be a hit but I didn’t anticipate that it would take so long to catch on, or that it would become this phenomenon… That really floored me, because I knew how good we were; we all did.”
Reddick’s co-star on “The Wire,” Wendell Pierce, paid tribute to the late actor, describing him as a “man of great strength and grace” on Friday.
Wendell Pierce took to social media to pay tribute to his late friend and colleague Lance Reddick, calling him “as talented a musician as he was an actor” and “the epitome of class.” He went on to express his grief, saying, “A sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here.”
Following his breakout role on “The Wire,” Reddick went on to accumulate an impressive list of credits, including a memorable part on “Lost” and regular roles on “Fringe,” “Bosch,” and Netflix’s “Resident Evil.” In a 2019 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Reddick revealed that his “Lost” character was originally intended to become a series regular, but plans changed when he secured a regular role on “Fringe.” However, even his brief stint on the popular show introduced him to a new level of fame. Reddick said, “That was the first time fans were really weird. I was living in New York at the time, and it seemed like everybody was stopping me to talk about ‘Lost.’ I went from small, niche notoriety to being completely recognizable.”
“John Wick” star Lance Reddick, who was also known for his roles in “One Night in Miami” and “Godzilla vs. Kong,” as well as his voice work in the “Destiny” video game franchise, has died at age 60. His representative, Mia Hansen, confirmed that he passed away suddenly on Friday morning from natural causes. Reddick’s impressive career included roles on shows such as “The Wire,” “Fringe,” and “Lost,” where he became recognizable to fans.
Despite his intensity onscreen, he also showcased a lighter side, guest starring in comedy shows like “Young Sheldon” and “Key and Peele.” He will appear posthumously in the upcoming fourth “John Wick” film.
In a joint statement to Deadline, his “John Wick” co-star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski expressed their sadness and called Reddick “the consummate professional and a joy to work with.” Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and their children. Donations in his memory can be made to momcares.org in Baltimore, according to his representative.
