About
“I never asked whose cake it was, I just went in and cut myself a piece.”
Isiah Whitlock, Jr., film, theatre, television and commercial artist, has the extraordinary gift of commanding any space he inhabits. A combination of physical presence, intense emotional investment, and a sonorous voice all combine to create an arresting experience for any viewer or audience member. And all this from a man hailing from South Bend, Indiana, who aspired to a career on a football field.
When Isiah decided to go to college, he enrolled at Southwest Minnesota State University, through a football scholarship. Injuries compelled his athletic dream to be put on a shelf, but he is not one to lay down the gauntlet. One day, on a whim, he decided to walk into the university’s Theatre Department, where they were holding auditions for Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”. He was cast, and from then on, was proverbially shot out of a cannon. He became a dramatic staple at SMSU, which clearly appreciates and recognizes his talents (exemplified by his invitation to be Commencement Speaker in 1999 and guest artist for SMSU’s tribute to Black History Month in 2007.)
Upon graduation from the university, he made the sojourn to San Francisco, becoming a valuable student, teacher and member of the prestigious American Conservatory Theatre. Next stop, New York City, where he began to build a solid career based on talent and determination.
Isiah began to amass a wide variety of estimable roles, from “The Iceman Cometh” on Broadway, to his captivating portrayal of Joe in Christopher Shinn’s renowned Off-Broadway play "Four”, in which he was nominated for the Lucille Lortelle Award as Outstanding Featured Actor. Isiah can boast memorable guest appearances on “Law and Order”, along with noteworthy characters developed in Spike Lee’s “25th Hour”, “She Hate Me”, and Peter Hedges’ highly-acclaimed film “Pieces of April”. His current portrayal of Senator Clay Davis on HBO’s superlative series “The Wire” is the epitome of an excellent actor living under the skin of his character. Isiah can unequivocally be the proud creator of a recognizable 10-second line: “Sheeeeeet”. When people pass him on the street, 10-to-1, they address him with that now-ubiquitous phrase.
His determination and perseverance stems from a youth lived without many creature comforts, but infinite examples of strength surrounding him. One of eleven children, he takes joy from a very loving and supportive (and large!) family. He never wanted for an empty moment, and has garnered numerous inspirational characters from his early years.
However, given his impressive power as an actor, Isiah can be seen as a proverbial Everyman. Culinary artist, saxophone player, lover of jazz, sports afficionado. In many ways, Isiah Whitlock, Jr. is a force to be reckoned with.
"The end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.
So to him we leave it.”