We have lost an icon. Actor Lance Reddick passed away this week. Honestly, this one hurts a lot. Reddick was an amazing character actor that brought an authority and dedication to every role. It made him positively magnetic. As a voice actor, his rich, dulcet tones were easy to pick out and a pleasure to listen to. Since “The Wire,” he enjoyed a prolific acting career. And it seemed like there was nothing he couldn’t do. From sci-fi to horror, to drama or action, he could do it all. Reddick’s more recent credits were as the iconic character Zavala in “Destiny 2” and Sylens from “Horizon,” the enigmatic Charon of the “John Wick” films, and Hellboy in the upcoming “Hellboy: Web of Wyrd” game.
Many have payed tribute, and have posted heartfelt condolences and messages of love for Reddick. Players of “Destiny 2“ have been placing banners and kneeling in front of Zavala all day long. A digital vigil for someone that brought the Titan Vanguard to life. Touching their hearts as a symbol of strength and compassion. For everyone, his passing is sudden and heartbreaking.
The cast and crew of “John Wick” posted their love for the wonderful person Reddick was, and how much he’ll be missed. “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” the director Chad Stalhski and star Keanu Reeves said in a statement. “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.”
“Total shock and disbelief. Lance was a wonderful human being and a wonderful colleague,” co-star Ian McShane said. “My deepest condolences, peace and love to his wife, Stephanie, and all his family.”
Gone Too Soon
The developers of the upcoming Hellboy video game commented on how honored they were to work with Reddick. Of course, the immediate worry from fans waiting for the game is whether Lance will be replaced. If his voice work wasn’t finished, what’s the studio to do? But the tweet is a reassuring one. Game pre-production generally involves voice work. It’s likely Reddick already finished voicing the character.
Regardless of if a series or movie was decent or not, Reddick managed to elevate it a level with his presence. The “Resident Evil‘” Netflix series tanked significantly. But you can’t deny his captivating work as a different Albert Wesker than we’d seen across the games. Reddick had an energy that he brought to the screen that made you love him from the minute you saw him. As a villain, he could be seriously intimidating. As a mentor character, he brought a compassionate steadfastness that had you constantly wanting more. It’s devastating that we’ve lost him so early. And only at 60 years old.
There’s no word yet on what caused Reddick’s death. The only indication something may have been amiss was his choosing to not attend the “John Wick 4” premiere. Instead, he posted to his Instagram, being mobbed by his dogs, while enjoying a quiet night in. Reddick’s Instagram is filled with dog videos. He loved spoiling them and cuddling with them. So nothing seemed out of the ordinary. For him to pass away two days later is shocking. Ultimately, the cause doesn’t matter. Not really. What does is that he was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.
