Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Biography
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
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order
All Movies (63)
- Hoppers2026 · as Bird King (voice)
- Cocaine Bear2023 · as Bob
- Lightyear2022 · as Commander Burnside (voice)
- Triggered2022 · as Ohio
- I Care a Lot2021 · as Judge Lomax
- Da 5 Bloods2020 · as Melvin
- Sloan Hearts Neckface2020 · as Lester
- The Lost Husband2020 · as Russ McAllen
- Seneca2019 · as Michael
- Run with the Hunted2019 · as Lester
- Corporate Animals2019 · as Derek
- Lying and Stealing2019 · as Lyman
- Lost Holiday2019 · as Officer Matthews
- All Square2018 · as Scotty
- The Old Man & the Gun2018 · as Detective Gene Dentler
- BlacKkKlansman2018 · as Mr. Turrentine
- Person to Person2017 · as Buster
- Cars 32017 · as River Scott (voice)
- CHiPs2017 · as Peterson
- Pete's Dragon2016 · as Sheriff Gene Dentler
- Chi-Raq2015 · as Bacchos
- 23 Blast2014 · as Dr. Connelly
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn2014 · as Yates
- Home2013 · as Samuel
- Jerome's Bouquet2013 · as Jack
- Thanks for Sharing2013 · as Charles
- Newlyweeds2013 · as Philly
- Europa Report2013 · as Dr. Pamuk
- Not Fade Away2012 · as Landers
- Why Stop Now?2012 · as Black
- Red Hook Summer2012 · as Detective Flood
- Gun Hill Road2011 · as Officer Thompson
- Detachment2011 · as Mr. Mathias
- Cedar Rapids2011 · as Ronald Wilkes
- Main Street2010 · as Mayor
- Twelve2010 · as Detective Dumont
- Brooklyn's Finest2010 · as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
- I Hate Valentine's Day2009 · as Drummer
- Under New Management2009 · as Rev. A.L. Blunton
- Cadillac Records2008 · as Mississippi DJ
- Choke2008 · as Detective Palmer
- The Wire Odyssey2007 · as Self
- Enchanted2007 · as Ethan Banks
- 14082007 · as Hotel Engineer
- Beautiful Ohio2006 · as Mr. Lebreaux
- Kettle of Fish2006 · as Freddie
- Duane Hopwood2005 · as William
- Stealing Martin Lane2005 · as Chopper
- She Hate Me2004 · as Amos Flood
- A Jersey Tale2004 · as Mr. Stubbs
- Pieces of April2003 · as Eugene
- 25th Hour2002 · as Agent Flood
- Jump Tomorrow2001 · as George's Uncle
- WW32001
- Harlem Aria1999 · as Manny
- A Fish in the Bathtub1999 · as Rudy
- The Spanish Prisoner1997 · as Trooper
- Everyone Says I Love You1996 · as Cop
- Eddie1996 · as Rick
- GoodFellas1990 · as Doctor
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990 · as Fireman
- A Christmas Carol1981 · as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest
- The Body Is Water— · as Alexander Wilkins
All TV Shows (43)
- The Residence2025 · as Larry Dokes
- History of Swear Words2021 · as Self
- Your Honor2020 · as Charlie Figaro
- Woke2020 · as Mr. Jackson
- FBI2018 · as Richard Talmage
- The Good Cop2018 · as Burl Loomis
- Apple & Onion2018 · as Mayor Naise (voice)
- She's Gotta Have It2017 · as Dog #10
- The Mist2017 · as Gus Bradley
- Atlanta2016 · as Raleigh Marks
- Lucifer2016 · as Carmen
- The Carmichael Show2015 · as Reverend Carlson
- Gotham2014 · as Gerry Lang
- BoJack Horseman2014 · as C.E.O. (voice)
- Lucas Bros. Moving Co.2013 · as Mr. Dream
- Lucky 72013 · as Bob Harris
- The Blacklist2013 · as Danny
- Elementary2012 · as Jack Brunelle
- Veep2012 · as George Maddox
- Smash2012 · as Ronald Strickland
- The Good Wife2009 · as Ira Protopapas
- The Unusuals2009
- New Amsterdam2008 · as Joe Williams
- The Jury2004
- The Wire2002 · as Clay Davis
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent2001 · as Crime Scene Detective
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent2001 · as Detective
- Ed2000 · as Tim Unger
- Madigan Men2000
- Wonderland2000 · as Dr. Mohyuddin
- Third Watch1999 · as Reggie Simmons
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Robbery Division Captain
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Todd Smythe
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Captain Reece
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as NTCC Representative
- Liberty!1997 · as Luke - Slave
- NYPD Blue1993 · as Anton Emery
- Law & Order1990 · as Gordon Samuels
- Law & Order1990 · as Antony White
- Law & Order1990 · as Simon Brooks
- Law & Order1990 · as Fred Oakes
- Law & Order1990 · as Captain Navarro
- Oceano1989 · as The Moose