Steph Deschamps / March 20, 2023
The American actor Lance Reddick, known for his role as a zealous policeman in the series "The Wire", died Friday at the age of 60, his agent said. The actor, also famous for his role in the action films "John Wick" with Keanu Reeves, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles, in the neighborhood of Studio City, according to the specialized site TMZ.
Mr. Reddick died "this morning" and the cause of his death was "natural", his agent, Mia Hansen, told AFP. "Lance will be greatly missed," she added.
The actor made a name for himself in Hollywood in 2000, thanks to the series "Oz" of the HBO channel. He played a detective undercover in prison to fight against drug trafficking, which quickly sinks into addiction.
But it was with "The Wire" that he really broke through. Often described as one of the best television series of all time, it followed the struggle of a police drug squad against gangs in Baltimore City. Lance Reddick played Lieutenant Cedric Daniels, a conscientious and idealistic officer. "The Wire" made several of its stars famous, including Idris Elba and Michael Kenneth Williams, who died in 2021 and is widely beloved for his character of Omar Little, a gay thug who enforces a strict code of conduct. Lance Reddick was married to Stephanie Reddick and had two children, according to his agent.
Several celebrities paid tribute to him on Friday. Wendell Pierce, another star of "The Wire," described him on Twitter as "a man of great strength and grace. The epitome of class." His death is a "sudden, unexpected and painful grief for our artistic family," he added. "Wonderful actor, wonderful man. This is sad news," reacted the writer Stephen King, saying he was reviewing the series "The Wire ».
The HBO channel praised an actor "held in high esteem by all who knew him and worked with him." "We are proud to be part of his legacy. We will miss him greatly," it added.
His partners in the "John Wick" films, Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski, also shared their grief. "We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the loss of our beloved friend and colleague," they explained in a statement. "He was a consummate professional and a pleasure to work with. »