Isiah Whitlock Jr.
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 13, 1954
- Died
- December 30, 2025
- Birthplace
- South Bend, Indiana, USA
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
- The Body Is Water
The Body Is Water TBA
as Alexander Wilkins
Hoppers 2026
as Bird King (voice)
Cocaine Bear 2023
as Bob
Lightyear 2022
as Commander Burnside (voice)
Triggered 2022
as Ohio
I Care a Lot 2021
as Judge Lomax
Da 5 Bloods 2020
as Melvin
Sloan Hearts Neckface 2020
as Lester
The Lost Husband 2020
as Russ McAllen
Seneca 2019
as Michael
Run with the Hunted 2019
as Lester
Corporate Animals 2019
as Derek
Lying and Stealing 2019
as Lyman
Lost Holiday 2019
as Officer Matthews
All Square 2018
as Scotty
The Old Man & the Gun 2018
as Detective Gene Dentler
BlacKkKlansman 2018
as Mr. Turrentine
Person to Person 2017
as Buster
Cars 3 2017
as River Scott (voice)
CHiPs 2017
as Peterson
Pete's Dragon 2016
as Sheriff Gene Dentler
Chi-Raq 2015
as Bacchos
23 Blast 2014
as Dr. Connelly
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn 2014
as Yates
Home 2013
as Samuel
Jerome's Bouquet 2013
as Jack
Thanks for Sharing 2013
as Charles
Newlyweeds 2013
as Philly
Europa Report 2013
as Dr. Pamuk
Not Fade Away 2012
as Landers
Red Hook Summer 2012
as Detective Flood
Why Stop Now? 2012
as Black
Gun Hill Road 2011
as Officer Thompson
Detachment 2011
as Mr. Mathias
Cedar Rapids 2011
as Ronald Wilkes
Main Street 2010
as Mayor
Twelve 2010
as Detective Dumont
Brooklyn's Finest 2010
as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
I Hate Valentine's Day 2009
as Drummer
Under New Management 2009
as Rev. A.L. Blunton
Cadillac Records 2008
as Mississippi DJ
Choke 2008
as Detective Palmer
The Wire Odyssey 2007
as Self
Enchanted 2007
as Ethan Banks
1408 2007
as Hotel Engineer
Beautiful Ohio 2006
as Mr. Lebreaux
Kettle of Fish 2006
as Freddie
Duane Hopwood 2005
as William
Stealing Martin Lane 2005
as Chopper
She Hate Me 2004
as Amos Flood
A Jersey Tale 2004
as Mr. Stubbs
Pieces of April 2003
as Eugene
25th Hour 2002
as Agent Flood
Jump Tomorrow 2001
as George's Uncle
WW3 2001
Actor
Harlem Aria 1999
as Manny
A Fish in the Bathtub 1999
as Rudy
The Spanish Prisoner 1997
as Trooper
Everyone Says I Love You 1996
as Cop
Eddie 1996
as Rick
GoodFellas 1990
as Doctor
Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990
as Fireman
- A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol 1981
as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest
Credits from TMDB.