Lance Reddick’s Most Memorable TV Shows and Movies to Stream Now

Lance Reddick, who died Friday at the age of 60, had a striking screen presence, and not just because he tended to play fearsome law enforcement figures.

His commanding demeanor and gruff baritone voice imbued his characters with gravity and authority, but he also seemed to enjoy playing against the ultra-serious types he was known for. He specialized in mysterious men, adding ambiguity to his characters’ motivations in roles that were both brief, like a chilling appearance in “Lost,” and more expansive, 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.

‘Thread’

Reddick’s breakthrough role came in 2002 with the role of Cedric Daniels, who started the critically acclaimed HBO series as a principled but ambitious lieutenant in the Baltimore Police Department’s narcotics unit.

According to Jonathan Abrams’ “All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire”, Reddick was almost cast as drug addict-turned-informant Bubbles because he looked like the person the character was based on – more so than Andre Royo. , who ultimately won the role. Reddick had previously played drug addicts in “The Corner” and “Oz,” and Bubbles might have put him on an entirely different typing trajectory — away from the law enforcement and authority figure roles that it began to accumulate.

He worked hard to flesh out Daniels, following a real narcotics lieutenant to learn the ropes and using boxing workouts to make Daniels as physically imposing as possible. Reddick’s portrayal has evolved over the show’s five seasons, but it’s always been quiet yet intense and utterly distinctive.

Watch it on HBO Max

‘Fringe’

Most of the stars of Fox’s gripping and loopy sci-fi drama “Fringe” have played multiple roles across multiple universes, creating multiple versions of main and alternate characters. Reddick played Special Agent Phillip Broyles in one universe and Colonel Broyles in the other. (In season three, the actor had the surreal task of playing Agent Broyles encountering the corpse of Colonel Broyles.)

It was another five-season run for Reddick, who appeared in JJ Abrams’ previous series, “Lost.” This time, Reddick got to show off his musical abilities (the episode “Brown Betty”), get pretty silly while his character tripped on acid (“Lysergic Acid Diethylamide”), and contemplate the significance of Twizzlers across multiple episodes. And you thought Reddick was still serious?

‘Business’

Reddick has usurped his own stoic sternness in several comedic roles – highlights include an inappropriate toy store manager in a Funny or Die skit; a guest spot on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” in which he struggles to control his temper; and an appearance on Eric André’s Adult Swim talk show that started out weird and got weirder. Andre looked just as confused as the audience when Reddick hit the desk and left, only to later return to dramatically declare that he wished he was LeVar Burton.

They were, however, unique pieces. To see Reddick truly let loose, watch him lend his intimidating rep to full effect in Comedy Central’s satire “Corporate” as a hilarious psychopathic boss with a wittily absurd name: Christian DeVille. The character does not believe that God exists, but he certainly believes in making money in his name.

Stream on Paramount+

“Bosch”

After doing “The Wire” and “Fringe” back-to-back, Reddick was hesitant to play another top cop role. But Irvin Irving in Amazon’s crime drama “Bosch” isn’t just another cop — the Los Angeles police chief is more of a political animal who loves power plays.

Michael Connelly, whose novels are the basis of the series, tweeted that Reddick was able to deepen a character who was, by the author’s own admission, “paper-thin in books”, making him “machiavellian, intriguing and even likeable”. Irving is constantly angry and angry about Bosch (Titus Welliver), a detective who refuses to play by the rules – the chief’s disdain is evident in his posture, in his voice, in everything he does. But thanks to Reddick, he still catches your eye.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video

‘John Wick’

Reddick’s most popular film role came late in his career: Charon, the dapper concierge at the Continental Hotel in the first four installments of the “John Wick” film franchise.

As an employee of a Manhattan establishment that hosted traveling assassins, Charon – named after the ferryman of Hades in Greek mythology – was the soul of stealth. But he was particularly sensitive to the needs of one guest in particular: the very dangerous John Wick (Keanu Reeves).

Throughout all three films, Charon moves from behind the janitor’s desk to get in on the action. (If you need someone to help you load a shotgun, he’s your man.) The fourth, “John Wick: Chapter 4,” hits theaters next week.

Watch it on Peacock