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Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Actor · Died December 30, 2025, aged 71 · South Bend, Indiana, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 13, 1954
Died
December 30, 2025 (aged 71)
From
South Bend, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
77 on MovieCove · 97 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 8% in 30 days

What are Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
30%
Morality
21%
Self
17%
Survival
16%
Society
11%
Power
5%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 9 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 7

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 7
Threshold guardian
2 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
12
Hopeful
9
Absurd
10
Contemplative
8
Other
34

How their films linger

Thought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s films?

As of October 24, 2026, 57 of their 77 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

97 credits, 77 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hoppers(2026)

    as Bird King (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Residence(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Larry Dokes

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Cocaine Bear(2023)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Lightyear(2022)

    as Commander Burnside (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Triggered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Ohio

  • I Care a Lot(2020)

    as Judge Lomax

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Your Honor(2020)

    Show 20 episodes · as Charlie Figaro

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Woke(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Jackson

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Da 5 Bloods(2020)

    as Melvin

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Sloan Hearts Neckface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Lester

  • The Lost Husband(2020)

    as Russ McAllen

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Seneca(2019)

    as Michael

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Run with the Hunted(2019)

    as Lester

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Corporate Animals(2019)

    as Derek

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Lying and Stealing(2019)

    as Lyman

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Lost Holiday(2019)

    as Officer Matthews

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • All Square(2018)

    as Scotty

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Old Man & the Gun(2018)

    as Detective Gene Dentler

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • FBI(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Talmage

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Cop(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Burl Loomis

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • BlacKkKlansman(2018)

    as Mr. Turrentine

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Apple & Onion(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mayor Naise (voice)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas(2018)

    Show as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • She's Gotta Have It(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Dog #10

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Person to Person(2017)

    as Buster

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Mist(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gus Bradley

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Cars 3(2017)

    as River Scott (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • CHIPS(2017)

    as Peterson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Atlanta(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Raleigh Marks

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Pete's Dragon(2016)

    as Sheriff Gene Dentler

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Lucifer(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Carmen

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Chi-Raq(2015)

    as Bacchos

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Carmichael Show(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Carlson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • 23 Blast(2014)

    as Dr. Connelly

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Gotham(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerry Lang

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as C.E.O. (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Angriest Man in Brooklyn(2014)

    as Yates

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Lucas Bros. Moving Co. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Dream

  • Home(2013)

    as Samuel

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Jerome's Bouquet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Jack

  • Lucky 7(2013)

    Show 8 episodes · as Bob Harris

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Thanks for Sharing(2012)

    as Charles

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Newlyweeds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Philly

  • Europa Report(2013)

    as Dr. Pamuk

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Not Fade Away(2012)

    as Landers

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Brunelle

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Red Hook Summer(2012)

    as Detective Flood

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Why Stop Now?(2012)

    as Black

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Veep(2012)

    Show 7 episodes · as George Maddox

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Smash(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ronald Strickland

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Gun Hill Road(2011)

    as Officer Thompson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Detachment(2011)

    as Mr. Mathias

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Cedar Rapids(2011)

    as Ronald Wilkes

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Main Street(2010)

    as Mayor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Twelve(2010)

    as Detective Dumont

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Brooklyn's Finest(2009)

    as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Ira Protopapas

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • I Hate Valentine's Day(2009)

    as Drummer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Unusuals(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Under New Management (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Rev. A.L. Blunton

  • Cadillac Records(2008)

    as Mississippi DJ

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Choke(2008)

    as Detective Palmer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • New Amsterdam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Williams

  • Enchanted(2007)

    as Ethan Banks

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • 1408(2007)

    as Hotel Engineer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Ohio(2006)

    as Mr. Lebreaux

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Kettle of Fish(2006)

    as Freddie

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Duane Hopwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as William

  • Stealing Martin Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Chopper

  • She Hate Me(2004)

    as Amos Flood

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • A Jersey Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mr. Stubbs

  • The Jury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pieces of April(2003)

    as Eugene

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • 25th Hour(2002)

    as Agent Flood

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Wire(2002)

    Show 25 episodes · as Clay Davis

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Jump Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as George's Uncle

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Crime Scene Detective · as Detective

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • WW 3(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tim Unger

  • Madigan Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Mohyuddin

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Reggie Simmons

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Captain Reece · as NTCC Representative · as Robbery Division Captain · as Todd Smythe

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Harlem Aria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Manny

  • A Fish in the Bathtub(1998)

    as Rudy

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Spanish Prisoner(1997)

    as Trooper

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Liberty! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Luke - Slave

  • Everyone Says I Love You(1996)

    as Cop

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Eddie(1996)

    as Rick

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Anton Emery

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Antony White · as Captain Navarro · as Fred Oakes · as Gordon Samuels · as Simon Brooks

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • GoodFellas(1990)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch(1990)

    as Fireman

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Oceano (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · as The Moose

  • A Christmas Carol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest

  • The Body Is Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Alexander Wilkins

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles, 95 of them dated from 1981 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Lightyear (2022)

$226M worldwide

Highest rated

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Your Honor (2020)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19812026

Peak 2018 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting96 of 96: 96 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s12 · acting2000s25 · acting2010s45 · acting2020s11 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 39 roles
9005101520

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2021, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 50; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 77 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up30
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 77 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

Home (2013)

92nd percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

GoodFellas (1990)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles34–88 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles9–47 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles21–92 · median 76 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles6–65 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles31–85 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Isiah Whitlock Jr. work with?

People who share at least 2 of Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Spike Lee shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles