Isiah Whitlock Jr. (September 13, 1954 – December 30, 2025) was an American actor. He is best known for his role as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on the HBO television series The Wire, and for his frequent collaborations with… Isiah Whitlock Jr. (September 13, 1954 – December 30, 2025) was an American actor. He is best known for his role as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on the HBO television series The Wire, and for his frequent collaborations with filmmaker Spike Lee.
Whitlock appeared in many other films and television series, accumulating over 120 acting credits throughout his career. He also acted in some theater productions. He had a unique pronunciation of shit ("sheeeeeeeee-it") that appeared in much of his work.
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