American actor and musician Lance Reddick has passed away at the age of 60.
The tragic news was revealed by Reddick’s publicist, Mia Hansen, who said the actor died of natural causes on Friday morning.
Throughout his career as an actor, Reddick racked up over one hundred acting credits and added four producer credits to his name. He is best known for appearing in the likes of The Wire, Lost, John Wick, and Fringe.
Following his sudden passing, major entertainment figures rallied to pay a tribute to the “devoted collaborator” and “consummate professional.”
“The world of Wick would not be what it is without Lance Reddick and the unparalleled depth he brought to Charon’s humanity and unflappable charisma,” Lionsgate, the studio behind the John Wick franchise, said in a statement.
“Lance leaves behind an indelible legacy and hugely impressive body of work, but we will remember him as our lovely, joyful friend and Concierge. We’re stunned and heartbroken, and our deepest condolences go to his beloved family and his fans all around the world.”
Reddick’s passing comes just a week before John Wick: Chapter Four is set to hit the big screens.
The creator of The Wire, David Simon, added: “Consummate professional, devoted collaborator, lovely and gentle man, loyal friend. Could go on, but no, I can’t go on. This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon.”
Besides his major appearances, Reddick also had a number of guest and recurring roles in movies and shows such as CSI: Miami, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, I Dreamed of Africa, Great Expectations, The Siege, and many more.
“I was never interested in television. I always saw it as a means to an end. Like so many actors, I was only interested in doing theater and film,” Reddick previously said as he revealed he discovered his passion for television during the filming of the fourth season of Oz.
“But ‘Oz’ changed television. It was the beginning of HBO’s reign on quality, edgy, artistic stuff. Stuff that harkens back to great cinema of the ’60s and ’70s. When the opportunity for ‘Oz’ came up, I jumped. And when I read the pilot for ‘The Wire,’ as a guy that never wanted to be on television, I realized I had to be on this show.”
Our thoughts are with Lance’s wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children Christopher Reddick and Yvonne Nicole Reddick during this challenging time.