Actor Lance Reddick, police chief on 'The Wire,' dead at age 60

 

Actor Lance Reddick, worked in the movie 'The Wire,' dead at age of 60

 LOS ANGELES, March 17 (Reuters) - Actor Lance Reddick, best known for his commanding presence as a no-nonsense police chief on the acclaimed television drama "The Wire" and for his supporting work in the "John Wick" action-film series, died on Friday at age 60, his publicist said.

Reddick died suddenly on Friday morning of natural causes, according to a statement issued by the publicist, Mia Hansen. No further details about the circumstances of his death were immediately disclosed.  

His death came just days before the planned March 24 release of the fourth installment in the "John Wick" franchise, in which Reddick reprised his role as a hotel manager named Charon, an ally of the title character, a professional assassin forced out of retirement, played by Keanu Reeves.

Motion picture work beyond "John Wick" included appearances in such thrillers as "Angel has Fallen," "Monster Party" and "Godzilla vs. Kong." He was also known to video game enthusiasts as the voice of the character Commander Zavala in the "Destiny" brand shooter franchise.

A classically trained pianist, Reddick attended the Peabody Preparatory Institute to study music, worked in the Walden School's summer music theory and composition program, and eventually obtained a bachelor's degree in classical composition from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music.

He released a jazz album, "Contemplations and Remembrances" in 2007.

A photograph of Reddick posted on his Instagram account the day before his death showed the smiling actor, seated on a sofa in his living room surrounded by four pet dogs.