Acting · South Bend, Indiana, USA · Born September 13, 1954
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.
MovieHoppers
2026
as Bird King (voice)
TVThe Residence
2025
as Larry Dokes
MovieCocaine Bear
2023
as Bob
MovieLightyear
2022
as Commander Burnside (voice)
MovieTriggered
2022
as Ohio
MovieI Care a Lot
2021
as Judge Lomax
TVHistory of Swear Words
2021
as Self
TVYour Honor
2020
as Charlie Figaro
TVWoke
2020
as Mr. Jackson
MovieDa 5 Bloods
2020
as Melvin
MovieSloan Hearts Neckface
2020
as Lester
MovieThe Lost Husband
2020
as Russ McAllen
MovieSeneca
2019
as Michael
MovieRun with the Hunted
2019
as Lester
MovieCorporate Animals
2019
as Derek
MovieLying and Stealing
2019
as Lyman
MovieLost Holiday
2019
as Officer Matthews
MovieAll Square
2018
as Scotty
MovieThe Old Man & the Gun
2018
as Detective Gene Dentler
TVFBI
2018
as Richard Talmage
TVThe Good Cop
2018
as Burl Loomis
MovieBlacKkKlansman
2018
as Mr. Turrentine
TVApple & Onion
2018
as Mayor Naise (voice)
TVShe's Gotta Have It
2017
as Dog #10
MoviePerson to Person
2017
as Buster
TVThe Mist
2017
as Gus Bradley
MovieCars 3
2017
as River Scott (voice)
MovieCHiPs
2017
as Peterson
TVAtlanta
2016
as Raleigh Marks
MoviePete's Dragon
2016
as Sheriff Gene Dentler
TVLucifer
2016
as Carmen
MovieChi-Raq
2015
as Bacchos
TVThe Carmichael Show
2015
as Reverend Carlson
Movie23 Blast
2014
as Dr. Connelly
TVGotham
2014
as Gerry Lang
TVBoJack Horseman
2014
as C.E.O. (voice)
MovieThe Angriest Man in Brooklyn
2014
as Yates
TVLucas Bros. Moving Co.
2013
as Mr. Dream
MovieHome
2013
as Samuel
MovieJerome's Bouquet
2013
as Jack
TVLucky 7
2013
as Bob Harris
TVThe Blacklist
2013
as Danny
MovieThanks for Sharing
2013
as Charles
MovieNewlyweeds
2013
as Philly
MovieEuropa Report
2013
as Dr. Pamuk
MovieNot Fade Away
2012
as Landers
TVElementary
2012
as Jack Brunelle
MovieWhy Stop Now?
2012
as Black
MovieRed Hook Summer
2012
as Detective Flood
TVVeep
2012
as George Maddox
TVSmash
2012
as Ronald Strickland
MovieGun Hill Road
2011
as Officer Thompson
MovieDetachment
2011
as Mr. Mathias
MovieCedar Rapids
2011
as Ronald Wilkes
MovieMain Street
2010
as Mayor
MovieTwelve
2010
as Detective Dumont
MovieBrooklyn's Finest
2010
as Investigator #3 (as Isiah Whitlock)
TVThe Good Wife
2009
as Ira Protopapas
MovieI Hate Valentine's Day
2009
as Drummer
TVThe Unusuals
2009
MovieUnder New Management
2009
as Rev. A.L. Blunton
MovieCadillac Records
2008
as Mississippi DJ
MovieChoke
2008
as Detective Palmer
TVNew Amsterdam
2008
as Joe Williams
MovieThe Wire Odyssey
2007
as Self
MovieEnchanted
2007
as Ethan Banks
Movie1408
2007
as Hotel Engineer
MovieBeautiful Ohio
2006
as Mr. Lebreaux
MovieKettle of Fish
2006
as Freddie
MovieDuane Hopwood
2005
as William
MovieStealing Martin Lane
2005
as Chopper
MovieShe Hate Me
2004
as Amos Flood
MovieA Jersey Tale
2004
as Mr. Stubbs
TVThe Jury
2004
MoviePieces of April
2003
as Eugene
Movie25th Hour
2002
as Agent Flood
TVThe Wire
2002
as Clay Davis
MovieJump Tomorrow
2001
as George's Uncle
TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Crime Scene Detective
MovieWW3
2001
TVEd
2000
as Tim Unger
TVMadigan Men
2000
TVWonderland
2000
as Dr. Mohyuddin
TVThird Watch
1999
as Reggie Simmons
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Robbery Division Captain
MovieHarlem Aria
1999
as Manny
MovieA Fish in the Bathtub
1999
as Rudy
MovieThe Spanish Prisoner
1997
as Trooper
TVLiberty!
1997
as Luke - Slave
MovieEveryone Says I Love You
1996
as Cop
MovieEddie
1996
as Rick
TVNYPD Blue
1993
as Anton Emery
TVLaw & Order
1990
as Gordon Samuels
MovieGoodFellas
1990
as Doctor
MovieGremlins 2: The New Batch
1990
as Fireman
TVOceano
1989
as The Moose
A Christmas Carol
1981
as Second Charitable Gentleman / Party Guest
The Body Is Water
as Alexander Wilkins
