Isiah Whitlock Jr. facts for kids

Isiah Whitlock Jr. (born September 13, 1954) is an American actor. He is famous for his role as State Senator Clay Davis in the HBO television show The Wire. He has also worked on many movies with the director Spike Lee.

Whitlock has appeared in many popular films. These include Pete’s Dragon, Cars 3, and Lightyear. He was also in TV shows like Veep, Your Honor, and different shows in the Law & Order series.

Early Life and Education

Isiah Whitlock Jr. was born in South Bend, Indiana. He went to Southwest Minnesota State University on a football scholarship. While there, he also studied theater.

After some injuries, he had to stop playing football. This led him to focus completely on acting. He graduated in 1976 and then moved to San Francisco. There, he trained at the well-known American Conservatory Theater.

Acting Career

Whitlock is most recognized for playing Clay Davis on the TV show The Wire. His character was a politician who didn't always follow the rules. He became very well-known for a catchphrase his character would say.

Working with Spike Lee

Whitlock has been in many Spike Lee movies. Some of these films are 25th Hour, BlacKkKlansman, and Da 5 Bloods. His work with Lee helped make him a familiar face to audiences.

Other Roles in Film and TV

Over the years, Whitlock has played many different characters. He had a small part as a doctor in the movie Goodfellas. He also appeared in the fantasy movie Enchanted and the horror film 1408.

In 2011, he was in the comedy Cedar Rapids. His character in the movie was a big fan of The Wire. Whitlock has also appeared in TV shows like The Good Wife, Gotham, and Elementary. In 2016, he played the sheriff in the Disney movie Pete's Dragon.

Giving Back to His College

Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), where he went to college, now offers a scholarship in his name. It is called the Isiah Whitlock Jr. Endowed Scholarship. He has returned to the school to speak at graduation and special events.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Isiah Whitlock Jr. has a long career with many roles. Here are some of his most well-known projects that you might have seen.

Notable Movie Roles

• Goodfellas (1990) - He played a doctor in this classic film.
• 25th Hour (2002) - One of his many roles in a Spike Lee movie.
• Pieces of April (2003) - He played a supporting character named Eugene.
• Enchanted (2007) - He appeared as Ethan Banks.
• Cedar Rapids (2011) - He played Ronald Wilkes, an insurance agent.
• Pete's Dragon (2016) - He played Sheriff Gene Dentler.
• Cars 3 (2017) - He was the voice of the character River Scott.
• BlacKkKlansman (2018) - Another collaboration with director Spike Lee.
• Da 5 Bloods (2020) - He played Melvin in this popular film.
• I Care a Lot (2020) - He played Judge Lomax.
• Lightyear (2022) - He voiced the character Commander Burnside.

Notable Television Roles

• Law & Order (Franchise) - He has appeared as different characters in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent over many years.
• The Wire (2002–2008) - He played his most famous role, State Senator Clay Davis.
• Veep (2013–2015) - He had a recurring role as General George Maddox.
• The Good Cop (2018) - He played Burl Loomis in this series.
• Your Honor (2020–2023) - He played Charlie Figaro in this drama series.

See also

In Spanish: Isiah Whitlock Jr. para niños