'The Wire,' 'John Wick' actor was 60

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Actor Lance Reddick, best known for his work on HBO’s “The Wire” and the “John Wick” movie franchise, died Friday. He was 60.

The actor died of natural causes Friday morning, his rep Mia Hansen said in a statement to USA TODAY Friday.

“Lance will be greatly missed,” Hansen said.

Reddick was perhaps best known for his turn as respected police officer Cedric Daniels on Baltimore crime drama “The Wire.” The actor starred in all five seasons of the series as the lawyer-turned-lieutenant, leading the Baltimore Police Department’s narcotics team of detectives, including Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn), in their work targeting local drug trafficker Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris).

Another major role of his came in the form of hotel concierge Charon of the Continental Hotel in the “John Wick” movies. Charon is close with his employer, Winston (Ian McShane), serving as his rihgt-hand man.

“Theirs is a bond that transcends employer-employee and even friendship,” Reddick told News 18 in a story published Thursday.

In recent weeks, Reddick had been on a press tour for “John Wick: Chapter 4.” He was not in attendance at the red carpet premiere for the film earlier this week.

Reddick, born June 7, 1962, was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, later attending the Yale School of Drama. The actor landed his first screen acting credit in 1996 on the television series “New York Undercover.” He went on to appear in several TV movies and shows throughout the ‘90s, including “The Nanny” and “The West Wing.”

He continued to work steadily in television, appearing on network mainstays such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “CSI: Miami,” “Lost” and “Castle.” He acted on the “The Wire” from 2002 to 2008 and in several films, including each “John Wick” movie.

Reddick’s Daniels climbed the ranks from lieutenant to major to colonel and eventually deputy commissioner of operations, constantly playing a balancing act with his career aspirations with his desire to do good police work amid competing political interests and budget cuts.

Michael K. Williams, Reddick’s co-star on “The Wire” who played Omar Little on the series to critical acclaim, died on Sept. 6, 2021. At the time, Reddick called Williams “one of the kindest, gentlest, most genuine, giving and courageous souls I’ve ever met.”