Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Acting
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.
TV Shows(35)
The Residence
Larry Dokes
2025
History of Swear Words
Self
2021
Your Honor
Charlie Figaro
2020
Woke
Mr. Jackson
2020
FBI
Richard Talmage
2018
The Good Cop
Burl Loomis
2018
Apple & Onion
Mayor Naise (voice)
2018
She's Gotta Have It
Dog #10
2017
The Mist
Gus Bradley
2017
Atlanta
Raleigh Marks
2016
Lucifer
Carmen
2016
The Carmichael Show
Reverend Carlson
2015
Gotham
Gerry Lang
2014
BoJack Horseman
C.E.O. (voice)
2014
Lucas Bros. Moving Co.
Mr. Dream
2013
Lucky 7
Bob Harris
2013
The Blacklist
Danny
2013
Elementary
Jack Brunelle
2012
Veep
George Maddox
2012
Smash
Ronald Strickland
2012
The Good Wife
Ira Protopapas
2009
The Unusuals
2009
New Amsterdam
Joe Williams
2008
The Jury
2004
The Wire
Clay Davis
2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Crime Scene Detective
2001
Ed
Tim Unger
2000
Madigan Men
2000
Wonderland
Dr. Mohyuddin
2000
Third Watch
Reggie Simmons
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Robbery Division Captain
1999
Liberty!
Luke - Slave
1997
NYPD Blue
Anton Emery
1993
Law & Order
Gordon Samuels
1990
Oceano
The Moose
1989
Movies(63)
Hoppers
Bird King (voice)
2026
Cocaine Bear
Bob
2023
Lightyear
Commander Burnside (voice)
2022
Triggered
Ohio
2022
I Care a Lot
Judge Lomax
2021
Da 5 Bloods
Melvin
2020
Sloan Hearts Neckface
Lester
2020
The Lost Husband
Russ McAllen
2020
Seneca
Michael
2019
Run with the Hunted
Lester
2019
Corporate Animals
Derek
2019
Lying and Stealing
Lyman
2019
Lost Holiday
Officer Matthews
2019
All Square
Scotty
2018
The Old Man & the Gun
Detective Gene Dentler
2018
BlacKkKlansman
Mr. Turrentine
2018
Person to Person
Buster
2017
Cars 3
River Scott (voice)
2017
CHiPs
Peterson
2017
Pete's Dragon
Sheriff Gene Dentler
2016
Chi-Raq
Bacchos
2015
23 Blast
Dr. Connelly
2014
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
Yates
2014
Home
Samuel
2013
Jerome's Bouquet
Jack
2013
Thanks for Sharing
Charles
2013
Newlyweeds
Philly
2013
Europa Report
Dr. Pamuk
2013
Not Fade Away
Landers
2012
Why Stop Now?
Black
2012
Red Hook Summer
Detective Flood
2012
Gun Hill Road
Officer Thompson
2011
Detachment
Mr. Mathias
2011
Cedar Rapids
Ronald Wilkes
2011
Main Street
Mayor
2010
Twelve
Detective Dumont
2010
Brooklyn's Finest
Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
2010
I Hate Valentine's Day
Drummer
2009
Under New Management
Rev. A.L. Blunton
2009
Cadillac Records
Mississippi DJ
2008
Choke
Detective Palmer
2008
The Wire Odyssey
Self
2007
Enchanted
Ethan Banks
2007
1408
Hotel Engineer
2007
Beautiful Ohio
Mr. Lebreaux
2006
Kettle of Fish
Freddie
2006
Duane Hopwood
William
2005
Stealing Martin Lane
Chopper
2005
She Hate Me
Amos Flood
2004
A Jersey Tale
Mr. Stubbs
2004
Pieces of April
Eugene
2003
25th Hour
Agent Flood
2002
Jump Tomorrow
George's Uncle
2001
WW3
2001
Harlem Aria
Manny
1999
A Fish in the Bathtub
Rudy
1999
The Spanish Prisoner
Trooper
1997
Everyone Says I Love You
Cop
1996
Eddie
Rick
1996
GoodFellas
Doctor
1990
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Fireman
1990
A Christmas Carol
Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest
1981
The Body Is Water
Alexander Wilkins