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Bryan Cranston emotionally remembered his friend and fellow actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. who passed away and indeed caught the vibes of the actor’s kindness, smile, and great skill. The post by the ‘Breaking Bad’ actor which was very emotional also included a typical reference to Whitlock’s most cherished line and thus sparked a flow of shared pain and pleasant memories from those who knew the actor’s craft.
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The news was especially disturbing and Bryan Cranston went straight to his social media account as soon as it broke. It was mainly to show his disbelief and discontent with the death of Isiah Whitlock Jr. whom he considered a colleague, friend, and, very much admired only. Cranston’s note was a combination of sincere apology and warm memory. He first spoke of the personal virtues of Whitlock. “I shall miss the company and smile of this kind man most,” he said adding that it was even before talent came into the discussion that he was talking about a huge one. Cranston concluded his tribute with a very emotional, “Rest now, big guy,” and then, in a way, expressed what every fan was thinking: “Shhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttt.”
That long, unforgettable word was, of course, Whitlock’s signature sound from his role as the corrupt Maryland State Senator Clay Davis in the revolutionary HBO series The Wire. It became a cultural landmark, part of the television history that Cranston did not shy away from deliberately intertwining into his farewell. It was an excellent combination of acknowledgment and insider humor that recognized why Whitlock had such a strong pull on the audience.
The response was swift and passionate. Many, like the user ‘ackattman’, admitted that the same thought had instantly popped up in their minds: “I thought shhhhhhiiiiiiittttttt as soon as I saw the news. Such a loss.” The fact that so many had the same thoughts was an indication of how one line and Whitlock’s performance had touched and shaped the world of pop culture. A user who perhaps was also feeling the loss and referring Cindy’s comment said: “Two great actors from The Wire passing within like 2 weeks,” and drew a parallel with the recent death of Wire star co-actor Lance Reddick not long before.
Commenting on the artistic collaboration between Cranston and Whitlock, especially in the Showtime series Your Honor, people spoke of it. “You both did an EXCELLENT job on Your Honor,” one of the comments read, and another one added, “Felt Mr. Cranston’s presence after hearing of his passing….you two created a fantastic crime series.” The drama where Cranston was a judge and Whitlock was a cop was a recent demonstration of their utter chemistry.
The viewers’ remarks transformed the section into a small museum of Whitlock’s ever-changing career. Fans mentioned his role in the movie Cedar Rapids, and one user even humorously called him “THE Clay Davis?! Downtown Clay Davis?” The responses to that ranged from funny to “shiiiiiit” and debates about the character’s notorious existence, thus affirming the role’s enduring legacy.
Among the fans’ responses, the note from director Rosemary Rodriguez was the one that most distinguished itself because of its warmth and personal touch. “Thank you @bryancranston for the opportunity to work with the kind, talented, easy Isiah,” she said, and thus she gave a glimpse of the man behind the characters from a person who was there on the set. It was in line with the main point of Cranston’s focusing on Whitlock’s kindness.
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Cranston’s tribute was like a good monument. It not only paid respect to the artist and the human but also acknowledged the big loss while still celebrating a unique legacy with a little of the humor that made him loved. By closing with that familiar line, Cranston not only said goodbye to a friend but he also invited everyone who had the chance to see Whitlock’s talent to remember him as if they were smiling, and maybe let a discreet “sheeeeeit” come out of their lips. It was a proper farewell for an extraordinary person and a truly unforgettable actor.
You can view the original article HERE.
