Spike Lee Pays Tribute to Isiah Whitlock Jr.: ‘God Bless’

Spike Lee has paid tribute to his longtime collaborator Isiah Whitlock Jr., who died on Tuesday in New York at age 71.

Lee shared a photograph of himself with Whitlock on Instagram on Tuesday, writing, “Today I Learned Of The Passing Of My Dear Beloved Brother ISIAH WHITLOCK. GOD BLESS.”

Whitlock performed small roles in a number of of Lee’s movies, including “Red Hook Summer,” “Chi-Raq,” “She Hate Me” and “25th Hour.” His two major roles in Lee’s filmography got here with “Da Five Bloods,” by which he performs Vietnam veteran Melvin alongside Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters and Norm Lewis, and “BlackKkKlansman,” by which he starred as police officer Mr. Turrentine alongside Alec Baldwin, John David Washington and Robert John Burke.

Brian Liebman, Whitlock’s supervisor, shared the news of his loss of life in an Instagram put up. He wrote, “It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr. If you knew him — you loved him. A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed.”

Whitlock was best identified for playing the crooked state senator Clay Davis on “The Wire.” He also appeared in a recurring position on Seasons 2 via 4 of “Veep” as U.S. Secretary of Defense George Maddox, who runs against Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character Selina Meyer in the 2016 primaries.

The Indiana-born character actor also had small roles in “Goodfellas,” “Chappelle’s Show,” “Pieces of April,” “Enchanted,” “Cars 3” and “Lightyear.” His voice could be heard in Pixar’s “Hoppers,” which is ready to debut in 2026.