Isiah Whitlock Jr., the actor best known for his performances in The Wire, Veep, Your Honor, The Residence and more, died on December 30, 2025. He was 71. Fans and peers of Whitlock Jr. were shocked to learn of his death, especially since he had made recent public appearances.
Below, learn everything we know so far regarding Whitlock Jr.’s cause of death and his final days.
Whitlock Jr.’s exact cause of death was not immediately disclosed. However, his manager, Brian Liebman, told Deadline that the actor “died peacefully after battling a short illness.” He did not specify what the illness was.
Liebman announced the news of the South Bend, Indiana, native’s passing via Instagram on December 30, writing that Whitlock Jr. “will be very, very missed.”
“It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr,” he wrote in the caption. “If you knew him – you loved him. A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken.”
Whitlock Jr. did not have any known health issues before he died. Per his manager, though, he was battling a “short illness” in his final days.
