Lance Reddick, who died Friday at age 60, had an arresting screen presence if only because of his penchant for playing law enforcement figures.
His commanding and raspy baritone voice imbued his characters with gravitas and authority, but he also loved playing against the ultraserious types he was known for. He specializes in mystery men, adding ambiguity to his characters’ motives in brief roles, like a creepy guest appearance on “Lost” and more elaborate ones like his morally gray police chiefs in “The Wire,” “Bosch” and “Resident Evil.”
Here are some of Reddick’s career highlights and how to watch them.
‘the wire’
Reddick’s breakthrough role came in 2002 as Cedric Daniels, a principled but ambitious lieutenant in the Baltimore Police Department’s narcotics division on the critically acclaimed HBO series.
According to Jonathan Abrams’ “All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of the Wire,” Redick was cast as the almost-addicted informant bubble because he resembled the person the character was based on — more than Andre Royo, who ultimately won the part. Reddick previously played a slave in “The Corner” and “Oz,” and Bubbles may have set him on a completely different typecasting path — away from the law enforcement and authority roles he’d begun to amass.
He worked hard to get Daniels out, shadowing a real-life narcotics lieutenant to learn the ropes. Boxing exercises Daniels needs to be physically pushed as much as possible. Reddick’s portrayal evolved over the show’s five seasons, but was always quietly serious and utterly unique.
‘margin’
Most of the stars of the spectacularly loopy Fox sci-fi drama “Fringe” played multiple parts in multiple universes, creating multiple versions of the main and alternate characters. Reddick played Special Agent Philip Broyles in one universe and Colonel Broyles in another. (In the third season, the actor had the very real task of playing Agent Broyles, who encounters the dead body of Colonel Broyles.)
J.J. It’s another five-season run for Reddick, who appeared on Abrams’ previous series, “Lost.” During this time, Reddick showed his musical talent (episode “Brown Box”), and was funny during his character. Stumbled Acid (“lysergic acid diethylamide”) and think of the meaning of twizzlers in several chapters. You thought Reddick was always so serious?
‘Corporate’
Reddick betrayed his own stoic seriousness in a number of comedic roles – highlights include a misfit toy store manager. Have fun or die painting; A Guest Place”It’s always sunny in Philadelphia” in which he struggles to control his anger; And the appearance of Eric Andre Adult swimming talk show It started out weird and got weirder. Andre seemed as confused as the audience when Redick punched the table and walked out, before returning to dramatically announce that he wanted to be Lever Burton.
These were only once. To see Reddick really let loose, watch him make full use of his intimidating counterpart as a hilariously psychopathic boss with the spiritually ridiculous name of “Corporate” on the Comedy Central sitcom: Christian DeVille. The character does not believe in the existence of God, but he firmly believes in making money in his name.
‘Bosch’
After recurring roles in “The Wire” and “Fringe,” Reddick was reluctant to play another top cop role. But Irwin Irving isn’t just another cop in the Amazon crime drama “Bosh” — the Los Angeles police chief is a political animal who likes power games.
Michael Connelly, the basis of his series of novels, Tweeted By the author’s own admission, Reddick was able to deepen a character who was “paper thin in the books”, making him “Machiavellian, enigmatic and sympathetic”. Irving is constantly disaffected and agitated by Bosch (Titus Welliver), a detective who refuses to play by the rules – the chief’s disdain is evident in his posture, his voice, everything he does. But thanks to Reddick, he always commands your attention.
‘John Wick’
Reddick’s most famous film role came later in his career: Sharon, the elegant receptionist at the Continental Hotel in the “John Wick” film franchise.
Charon—named after Hades’ ferryman in Greek mythology—was the soul of wisdom as he served as an employee of the Manhattan establishment, a traveling assassin. But he’s sympathetic to the needs of one guest in particular: the very dangerous John Wick (Keanu Reeves).
Over the course of three films, Saron jumps into action from behind the reception desk. (If you need someone to help you load a gun, he’s your guy.) The fourth, “John Wick: Chapter 4,” hits theaters next week.
