# @variety on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DS57KoagX7q
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/38371117-variety-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2e57e1ac32.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-12-30T22:53:30.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Variety (@Variety) — https://gondola.cc/Variety

## Caption

Isiah Whitlock Jr., the actor best known for his role as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on #TheWire, has died at 71. 

Whitlock was a prolific character actor who was a frequent collaborator of Spike Lee, appearing in his films “BlacKkKlansman,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “She Hate Me,” “25th Hour,” “Red Hook Summer” and “Chi-Raq.” 

Across many of his projects, he developed the catchphrase “sheeeeee-it,” an elongated pronunciation of the word “shit.” It started in “She Hate Me” and “25th Hour,” and then the writers of “The Wire” began incorporating it into the HBO series. Whitlock said he could be stopped on the street two to three times per day by fans asking him to say the catchphrase.

Read the full story at the link in bio.

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## Tags

thewire

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