'The Wire' star Isiah Whitlock Jr. breathes his last at 71

Isiah Whitlock Jr., best known for his roles in The Wire and Da 5 Bloods, has passed away. He was 71.

The actor's death was confirmed by his manager on Tuesday, December 30, via social media.

Calling the late star "a brilliant actor and even better person," Brian Liebman wrote, "It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr. If you knew him - you loved him."

"A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed," added Isiah's manager on Instagram.

Revealing the cause of the actor's death, Brian told Deadline that Isiah died "peacefully" following a "short illness."

Isiah, who was born in South Bend in 1954, appeared in several films throughout his acting career, including She Hate Me, Chi-Raq, and BlacKkKlansman.

However, the actor was best known for his portrayal of the fictional Maryland State Senator, Clay Davis, in HBO crime drama, The Wire.