Friends, colleagues, and fans are paying tribute to Lance Reddick, following today’s news that the actor died at age 60. Reddick was known for his work on hits such as John Wick, The Wire, Destiny, and more.
Reddick starred in the John Wick franchise alongside Keanu Reeves, including the upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4. Today, Reeves and franchise director Chad Stahelski shared a statement with Variety on Reddick’s passing.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” Reeves and Stahelski wrote. “He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends. We dedicate the film to his loving memory. We will miss him dearly.”
Before John Wick, Reddick was best known for his role on as Cedric Daniels on The Wire. Today, Reddick’s The Wire co-star, Wendell Pierce, honored the late actor by saying, “A man of great strength and grace. As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class. [A] sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here. RIP”
A man of great strength and grace. As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class. An sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here. RIP pic.twitter.com/Xy0pl5c4NR
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) March 17, 2023
DC’s James Gunn said, “Lance Reddick was an incredibly nice guy, and an incredibly talented actor. This is heartbreaking. My love goes out to all his family, friends, and collaborators.”
Lance Reddick was an incredibly nice guy, and an incredibly talented actor. This is heartbreaking. My love goes out to all his family, friends, and collaborators.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 17, 2023
Ben Stiller recalled a time that Reddick worked with his morther, saying, “Lance Reddick was an beautiful and compelling actor. And a beautiful person. He worked with my mom Anne Meara in her play ‘Afterplay’, playing Raziel, the waiter slash angel of death. He was exquisite in that and all he did.”
Lance Reddick was an beautiful and compelling actor. And a beautiful person. He worked with my mom Anne Meara in her play “Afterplay”, playing Raziel, the waiter slash angel of death. He was exquisite in that and all he did.
Nothing is lost. ?
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) March 17, 2023
Reddick’s Fringe colleague Jared Harris called the late actor, “Gracious, thoughtful & wickedly funny,” and shared a story about trying to get an indie project with Reddick off the ground.
No! I loved working on Fringe with him. Gracious, thoughtful & wickedly funny. Later, we tried 2 get an indie Othello off the ground. Every actor has a graveyard of regrets, populated by projects you can’t let go of. That’s 1 of mine. He’d‘ve been magnificent. Ad Astra my friend. https://t.co/N6qLPpVEtj
— Jared Harris (@JaredHarris) March 17, 2023
The Video Game Industry Honors Lance Reddick
Beyond Hollywood, Reddick made his mark in the video games industry, with notable roles in Destiny, Horizon, and Quantum Break.
Reddick had been the voice of Destiny’s Commander Zavala since the franchise began in 2014, making it his longest-running role. Commander Zavala was easily one of the most recognizable and adored Destiny characters, and appropriately, Guardians are honoring him today.
On Twitter, Destiny 2 players are posting videos and photos of Guardians gathering in The Tower to honor Reddick. Groups of characters can be found paying their respects by bowing before Reddick’s Commander Zavala.
Destiny players are gathering in The Tower to honor the tragic passing of actor Lance Reddick, who played Commander Zavala in the franchise pic.twitter.com/ocl4Qvse8Q
— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) March 17, 2023
Folks who work on Bungie’s Destiny also shared their love for Reddick today, with Bungie CEO Pete Parsons taking to Twitter to say, “We just lost a beautiful human.”
We just lost a beautiful human.
— pete parsons (@pparsons) March 17, 2023
Bungie itself also released a statement about Reddick, saying, “Lance Reddick was an iconic presence on screen, in Destiny, and most importantly, in person. His love for our community shined through in Commander Zavala, in his uncompromising dedication to his craft, and out of the radiating kindness that touched those around him. To say he will be missed is a profound understatement, yet no less true. Rest in peace, Lance.
— Bungie (@Bungie) March 17, 2023
Ashly Burch, who played Aloy alongside Reddick’s Sylens in both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, said, “I’m so shocked and heartbroken about Lance. He was such an incredible performer.”
Shawn Ashmore starred opposite of Reddick in Quantum Break. Ashmore wrote, “I just saw that Lance Reddick has passed away. I was lucky enough to get to work and know him while making quantum break. Talented, kind, funny and very cool. Rest in peace”
Oh no! I just saw that Lance Reddick has passed away. I was lucky enough to get to work and know him while making quantum break. Talented, kind, funny and very cool. Rest in peace
— Shawn R Ashmore (@ShawnRAshmore) March 17, 2023
Voice actor Nolan North called Reddick, “a sweet guy and gifted performer.”
Gutted. Such a sweet guy and gifted performer. https://t.co/j05VUZiBgJ
— Nolan North (@nolan_north) March 17, 2023
In addition to mourning Reddick’s passing, the internet is sharing their favorite moments from the actor’s career, including stunning scenes from The Wire, monologues from Destiny, and the time Reddick scared Eric Andre.
RIP Lance Reddick. One of my favourite actors and the only person to ever scare Eric Andre. Always gave the performance of his life in anything he was in from John Wick to The Wire to Fringe. He will be dearly missed pic.twitter.com/k5bg33zyHT
— Sofia Coppium (@indianloonie) March 17, 2023
Image Credit: Rich Polk / Stringer
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
