Lance Reddick – a brilliant actor who showcased his talents and smooth voice across an array of TV shows, films and video games – died on Friday at the age of 60. A representative for Reddick confirmed to Deadline that he died of “natural causes.”
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Reddick made his acting debut in 1996 in an episode of New York Undercover. Over the next 27 years, he would act in prestige television shows like Oz, The Corner, Lost, Fringe and Bosch. In the world of video games, he lent his voice to the Destiny and Horizon franchises. And in film, Reddick most notably played a key role in the action-packed and critically acclaimed John Wick series, but also played more dramatic parts, like a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated One Night in Miami.
Reddick was damn funny too, taking comedic turns in appearances on Key & Peele, The Eric Andre Show, Rick and Morty, Duck Tales and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
He was an actor who could show strength as easily as he could display grace, elevating every piece of art he appeared in. On-screen, he could be intimidating and formidable, but also hilarious and warm. He could portray disdain with just a slight move of his eyes, and then show joy with a flash of a smile. Reddick seemed to bring respect and authority to everything he popped up in, whether it was an HBO show, a Netflix comedy or a video game.
Reddick is still due to appear in a few projects posthumously, including a remake of White Men Can’t Jump that is being produced by NBA star Blake Griffin, among others.
While Reddick had a long and accomplished career in acting, there is one role that his fans will remember him for best. From 2002 to 2008, Reddick starred as Cedric Daniels in HBO’s The Wire.
Yes he was talented , more important Lance was a true gentleman and one of sweetest men to be around. My sincere condolences to Reddick family and loved ones . He will truly be missed. pic.twitter.com/1ekx8g1Rnl
— Domenick Lombardozzi (@D_Lombardozzi) March 18, 2023
Over the course of five seasons, Daniels rises from the rank of lieutenant working in the Baltimore Police Department’s narcotics unit, to Major, to Colonel, to Deputy of Operations, to a then short-lived stint as Commissioner. While Reddick’s character has a questionable past that viewers never see on-screen, he is typically a straight-shooting who doesn’t bend the rules and often acts a strict father figure to Jimmy McNulty, Kima Greggs, Herc and Carver, and Roland Pryzbylewski. We see Daniels go through the show trying to juggle his career aspirations, his pursuit of working a good case, and trying not to give into the department’s stat-juking methods. He tries not to rock the boat, but often ends up calling his superiors – and subordinates – out on their BS. Reddick’s Daniels is a key figure in the show as the major crimes unit chases Avon Barksdale, Stringer Bell, The Greek, and Marlo Stanfield.
Before being cast as Daniels, Reddick initially read for the parts of Bubbles and Bunk Moreland in the groundbreaking show from David Simon. Andre Royo wound up playing Bubbles, a drug addict turned police snitch who tries to get clean, and the part of the foul-mouthed, cigar-smoking detective Bunk went to Wendell Pierce.
Shocked and saddened by the news that Lance Reddick has passed away. Truly heartbreaking.
R.I.P. My friend. You will be missed.
God speed.😥— Isiah Whitlock Jr. (@IsiahWhitlockJr) March 17, 2023
To properly remember Reddick, we thought it would be best to revisit some of his most memorable scenes from his most memorable role. Here’s the best of Cedric Daniels.
“…than let the world see you work a shovel.”
Reddick’s Daniels and Frankie Faison’s Earvin Burrell had many of these scenes throughout the series. The politicking Burrell tries to get Daniels to tow the line, and Daniels calls him out. In this instance, things erupt after Daniels starts looking into where Barksdale’s money is going to, which includes some of Burrell’s buddies in higher places.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
“You need to find a new home.”
Burrell wasn’t the only person Daniels often clashed with. The thorn in his side was often the rogue detective Jimmy McNulty, played by Dominic West. In this scene, Daniels discovers that McNulty went behind his back to have the target of the major crimes unit changed to Stringer Bell. And it’s the moment that Daniels loses his trust in McNulty.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
“He knows you don’t have a viable prosecution. So do you, so do I.”
In this scene, Daniels targets his rage at Major Bill Rawls.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
“So, this is your last case. Work it.”
Eventually, Daniels joins Rawls to berate McNulty over his shenanigans (that’s putting it lightly) in Season 5. It’s a scene where Daniels lets Rawls do most of the talking, but you can see and feel the visceral anger coming from Reddick’s character by his eyes and the way his jaw is situated. In that moment, it feels like Daniels could shoot laser beams from his eyes through McNulty.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
“What I need from you, I get.”
But there was a time where Daniels went to bat for McNulty, like in Season 2 when he begged Rawls to pull the detective off of boat patrol to work a major crimes case.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
“Detective. My office.”
It’s less about what Daniels says in this scene, and much more about his reacting to watching Prez clock his father-in-law, Major Stan Valchek, played by the late Al Brown. If you look up “The Wire” on GIPHY, you’ll see this short clip, where Daniels’ eyes nearly pop out of his head.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
“Comes a day you’re going to have to decide whether it’s about you or about the work.”
This is where Daniels shows off that fatherly-figure side. He knows that Carver has been going outside the chain-of-command and telling the deputy ops about everything that Daniels’ unit is doing. Instead of dressing Carver down, Daniels gives him a softer talking-to. Eventually, after being schooled by Daniels and Bunny Colvin, Carver climbs the ranks of the department. But it all starts with this moment in Season 1.
Warning: Video contains NSFW language
