Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Acting

Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Born September 13, 1954South Bend, Indiana, USA98 credits

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.

Known For

Filmography

Hoppers
2026Hoppers
as Bird King (voice)Movie
The Residence
2025The Residence
as Larry DokesTV
Cocaine Bear
2023Cocaine Bear
as BobMovie
Lightyear
2022Lightyear
as Commander Burnside (voice)Movie
Triggered
2022Triggered
as OhioMovie
I Care a Lot
2021I Care a Lot
as Judge LomaxMovie
Your Honor
2020Your Honor
as Charlie FigaroTV
Woke
2020Woke
as Mr. JacksonTV
Da 5 Bloods
2020Da 5 Bloods
as MelvinMovie
The Lost Husband
2020The Lost Husband
as Russ McAllenMovie
Seneca
2019Seneca
as MichaelMovie
Lost Holiday
2019Lost Holiday
as Officer MatthewsMovie
All Square
2018All Square
as ScottyMovie
The Old Man & the Gun
2018The Old Man & the Gun
as Detective Gene DentlerMovie
FBI
2018FBI
as Richard TalmageTV
The Good Cop
2018The Good Cop
as Burl LoomisTV
BlacKkKlansman
2018BlacKkKlansman
as Mr. TurrentineMovie
Apple & Onion
2018Apple & Onion
as Mayor Naise (voice)TV
Person to Person
2017Person to Person
as BusterMovie
The Mist
2017The Mist
as Gus BradleyTV
Cars 3
2017Cars 3
as River Scott (voice)Movie
CHiPs
2017CHiPs
as PetersonMovie
Atlanta
2016Atlanta
as Raleigh MarksTV
Pete's Dragon
2016Pete's Dragon
as Sheriff Gene DentlerMovie
Lucifer
2016Lucifer
as CarmenTV
Chi-Raq
2015Chi-Raq
as BacchosMovie
The Carmichael Show
2015The Carmichael Show
as Reverend CarlsonTV
23 Blast
201423 Blast
as Dr. ConnellyMovie
Gotham
2014Gotham
as Gerry LangTV
BoJack Horseman
2014BoJack Horseman
as C.E.O. (voice)TV
Home
2013Home
as SamuelMovie
Lucky 7
2013Lucky 7
as Bob HarrisTV
Thanks for Sharing
2013Thanks for Sharing
as CharlesMovie
Newlyweeds
2013Newlyweeds
as PhillyMovie
Europa Report
2013Europa Report
as Dr. PamukMovie
Not Fade Away
2012Not Fade Away
as LandersMovie
Elementary
2012Elementary
as Jack BrunelleTV
Why Stop Now?
2012Why Stop Now?
as BlackMovie
Red Hook Summer
2012Red Hook Summer
as Detective FloodMovie
Veep
2012Veep
as George MaddoxTV
Smash
2012Smash
as Ronald StricklandTV
Gun Hill Road
2011Gun Hill Road
as Officer ThompsonMovie
Detachment
2011Detachment
as Mr. MathiasMovie
Cedar Rapids
2011Cedar Rapids
as Ronald WilkesMovie
Main Street
2010Main Street
as MayorMovie
Twelve
2010Twelve
as Detective DumontMovie
Brooklyn's Finest
2010Brooklyn's Finest
as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)Movie
The Good Wife
2009The Good Wife
as Ira ProtopapasTV
Under New Management
2009Under New Management
as Rev. A.L. BluntonMovie
Cadillac Records
2008Cadillac Records
as Mississippi DJMovie
Choke
2008Choke
as Detective PalmerMovie
New Amsterdam
2008New Amsterdam
as Joe WilliamsTV
Enchanted
2007Enchanted
as Ethan BanksMovie
1408
20071408
as Hotel EngineerMovie
Beautiful Ohio
2006Beautiful Ohio
as Mr. LebreauxMovie
Kettle of Fish
2006Kettle of Fish
as FreddieMovie
Duane Hopwood
2005Duane Hopwood
as WilliamMovie
She Hate Me
2004She Hate Me
as Amos FloodMovie
A Jersey Tale
2004A Jersey Tale
as Mr. StubbsMovie
Pieces of April
2003Pieces of April
as EugeneMovie
25th Hour
200225th Hour
as Agent FloodMovie
The Wire
2002The Wire
as Clay DavisTV
Jump Tomorrow
2001Jump Tomorrow
as George's UncleMovie
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Crime Scene DetectiveTV
WW3
2001WW3
Movie
Ed
2000Ed
as Tim UngerTV
Wonderland
2000Wonderland
as Dr. MohyuddinTV
Third Watch
1999Third Watch
as Reggie SimmonsTV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Robbery Division CaptainTV
Harlem Aria
1999Harlem Aria
as MannyMovie
Liberty!
1997Liberty!
as Luke - SlaveTV
Eddie
1996Eddie
as RickMovie
NYPD Blue
1993NYPD Blue
as Anton EmeryTV
Law & Order
1990Law & Order
as Gordon SamuelsTV
GoodFellas
1990GoodFellas
as DoctorMovie
Oceano
1989Oceano
as The MooseTV
A
1981A Christmas Carol
as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party GuestMovie
T
The Body Is Water
as Alexander WilkinsMovie