Spike Lee has opened up since the loss of one of his long-time collaborators and a respected presence in film and television, actor Isiah Whitlock Jr.Whitlock Jr. passed away in New York on Tuesday at 71. His manager confirmed the news.Lee posted his response to Instagram soon after. He uploaded a picture of the two together. Whitlock had starred in several Spike Lee movies over the years. Although most of his roles were supporting ones, he was a pivotal figure nonetheless.Spike Lee’s message following Isiah Whitlock Jr.’s death View this post on Instagram Instagram PostSpike Lee shared his tribute on Instagram on Tuesday.Along with a photo of himself with Whitlock, he wrote, “Today I Learned Of The Passing Of My Dear Beloved Brother ISIAH WHITLOCK. GOD BLESS.”The message was short and direct. It focused on his personal connection to the actor.Lee did not add further comments or details in the post. However, the wording showed how close he felt to Whitlock. By calling him “my dear beloved brother,” Lee made it clear that their relationship went beyond work. The tribute quickly drew attention online.Fans and industry peers responded in the comments. Many shared memories of Whitlock’s performances and thanked Lee for honoring him. The post became one of the first public reactions from a filmmaker who worked closely with the actor.Read More: What charges is Stefon Diggs facing? Patriots star charged in Massachusetts court over alleged December incidentIsiah Whitlock Jr.’s work with Spike Lee and his wider careerIsiah Whitlock Jr. with Spike Lee (Image via Getty)Isiah Whitlock Jr. had featured in Spike Lee movies as the years went by. These were Red Hook Summer, Chi-Raq, She Hate Me, and 25th Hour. His roles in these movies were usually smaller, although he was a consistent and recognizable performer.His greatest contributions to the films of Lee were later on in his career. Whitlock acted as Melvin, a veteran of Vietnam in Da Five Bloods. He performed together with Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, and Norm Lewis. He also starred in BlackKkKlansman playing Mr. Turrentine, a cop, with Alec Baldwin, John David Washington, and Robert John Burke.Whitlock was a household name outside of Spike Lee productions too. He was best known for playing Clay Davis on The Wire. He portrayed the state senator who is corrupt in a number of seasons. He also appeared regularly on Veep in Seasons 2 through 4 as Secretary of Defense George Maddox.Read More: Why has the LAPD sealed medical records in the Rob Reiner and wife Michele case? Reasons exploredTributes from his manager Whitlock’s manager, Brian Liebman, confirmed his death in an Instagram post.He wrote, “It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr.” He continued, “If you knew him — you loved him. A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing.”Liebman also added, “Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed.”Whitlock was born in Indiana and built a long career as a character actor. He appeared in films such as Goodfellas, Pieces of April, Enchanted, Cars 3, and Lightyear. He also appeared on Chappelle’s Show. Fans keenly await Pixar’s Hoppers, scheduled for release in 2026, in which he had voiced a character.Read More: How long did Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre date? Relationship explored as pair quietly splits