Actor Reg E. Cathey, whose credits include The Wire, House of Cards, Outcast and 2015’s Fantastic Four film, has died at the age of 59.
The Wire creator David Simon reported the actor’s death on Twitter. “Reg Cathey, 1958-2018,” Simon wrote. “Not only a fine, masterful actor — but simply one of the most delightful human beings with whom I ever shared some long days on set. On wit alone, he could double any man over and leave him thinking. Reg, your memory is a great blessing.” According to TMZ, Cathey passed away at his home in New York after a battle with lung cancer.
Reg Cathey, 1958-2018. Not only a fine, masterful actor — but simply one of the most delightful human beings with whom I ever shared some long days on set. On wit alone, he could double any man over and leave him thinking. Reg, your memory is a great blessing. pic.twitter.com/OHEUbAhTg0
— David Simon (@AoDespair) February 9, 2018
Cathey, who was born on Aug. 18, 1958, in Huntsville, Alabama, spent his childhood in West Germany before studying theater at the University of Michigan and the Yale School of Drama. He earned more than 80 acting credits during his time as an actor. Cathey appeared as Freeze in 1994’s The Mask, based on the Dark Horse Comics series, and as Dr. Santiago in 1995’s Se7en.
The actor had a particularly storied television career, having appeared on The Wire as Norman Wilson and as Freddy Hayes on Netflix’s House of Cards. Due to his work on House of Cards, Cathey won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in 2015. He was also nominated for the award both in 2014 and 2016 for his work on the series.
Along with playing Dr. Franklin Storm in 2015’s Fantastic Four, his work in comic book adaptations also includes the series regular role of Chief Byron Giles in Cinemax’s Outcast, based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta, and as Deetee in 1995’s Tank Girl film, based on the comic by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett.
More recent work by Cathey includes the 2018 film Tyrel, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and as Zakariyya Lacks in the 2017 HBO television movie The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
via Variety