According to his death certificate, the late actor Lance Reddick died of a heart condition.
Reddick, who died in March at age 60, had his causes of death listed as ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, according to a document obtained by TMZ on Thursday.
The actor was discovered in his home on March 17 and was initially said to have died of natural causes, as stated on the death certificate. The death certificate also stated that Reddick would be cremated.
But the actor’s lawyer quickly refuted the report, claiming that “no autopsy had been performed” on Reddick and that “no medical examination of Lance ever indicated such ailments during his lifetime.”
“I have represented Lance Reddick for many years and still represent his wife Stephanie,” attorney James Hornstein said in a statement to PEOPLE.
“The coroner’s statement on the death certificate is not the result of an autopsy. No autopsy was performed on Lance.
Cause of death: The Wire star Lance Reddick died of cardiovascular disease, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ on Thursday; seen in 2019 in Los Angeles
Gone too soon: Reddick passed away on March 17 at the age of 60. He was best known for starring in The Wire and playing a supporting role in all four John Wick films; seen with Ian McShane in John Wick: Chapter 4
“As far as I know, no medical examination of Lance during his lifetime has ever indicated any such conditions,” he claimed.
“Lance was the most physically fit person I have ever known. He exercised daily in his home gym, including extensive cardio work, and the availability of fitness facilities was a contractual requirement for his work outside the home.
“He ate like a dietitian was keeping track of all his meals. The information on the death certificate is completely inconsistent with his lifestyle.
“On behalf of Stephanie Reddick, the information contained in the death certificate is not corroborated and does not reflect the facts known to the family,” the statement concluded.
The terms ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease are often used interchangeably, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The dangerous condition can lead to a heart attack, but many people who suffer from ischemic heart disease may not realize they have the condition.
It is caused by a buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries leading to the heart, which decreases the space available for blood to travel and, in severe cases, can even completely block its flow, which is known as atherosclerosis.
The narrowed arteries can lead to chest pain and can weaken the heart muscle over time.
Smoking, poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are all risk factors.
Reddick’s shocking death came during the publicity campaign for one of his latest projects, John Wick: Chapter 4.
He acted as the caretaker Charon of the Continental, a hotel catering exclusively to assassins.
The actor had missed the film’s New York City premiere just days before his death — which he left unexplained — and he was still scheduled for talk show appearances in the days following the shocking news.
Just a day before his death, Reddick posted sweet photos of himself relaxing with his three dogs.
It was reportedly his wife Stephanie Reddick who found her husband collapsed in the backyard and called an ambulance.
Reddick will be best remembered for his role as Daniels on the hit HBO crime series The Wire, appearing in all 60 episodes alongside stars like Dominic West and Idris Elba.
His death comes less than two years after fellow Wire star Michael K. Williams died of an accidental drug overdose in September 2021 at the age of 54.
Tragic: Just a day before his death, Reddick posted sweet photos of himself relaxing with his three dogs
He wrote under the photos, “On screen and off it’s no surprise I love to spoil my dogs”
Reddick also had recurring roles on hit TV shows Fringe, Oz, Bosch, and Lost and was the voice of Commander Zavala in the Destiny video games.
His film work includes appearances in the blockbuster movies Godzilla Vs. Kong and Angel has fallen.
He is survived by his wife Stephanie, daughter Yvonne Nicole Reddick and son Christopher Reddick.
Stars took to Twitter to pay tribute to the “incredibly talented” actor when news of his death broke on Friday.
“A man of great strength and grace,” said Wendell Pierce, his costar on The Wire.
‘Equally talented musician as actor. The epitome of class. A sudden unexpected sharp painful sadness for our artistic family.
An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Thank God my friend. You made your mark here. REST IN PEACE’
Guardians of the Galaxy actor James Gunn said: ‘Lance Reddick was an incredibly nice guy and an incredibly talented actor.
“This is heartbreaking. My love goes out to all his family, friends and associates.’
Fans shared their favorite clips of Reddick, including a scene from the Eric Andre show where he scares the host in a satirical skit.
One Twitter user wrote, “RIP Lance Reddick. One of my favorite actors and the only one who ever scared Eric Andre.
“Always give the performance of a lifetime in everything he starred in, from John Wick to The Wire to Fringe. He will be greatly missed.’
Health Issue: Reddick was initially believed to have died of ‘natural causes’, confirming the death certificate; portrayed in one of his most popular roles in The Wire
Devastating Discovery: It was his wife Stephanie Reddick who found him collapsed in the backyard and called an ambulance; pictured together at a screening in February 2015
The son of Dorothy Gee and Solomon Reddick, Lance was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended the Friends School of Baltimore private Quaker school.
He went on to study music at the Peabody Preparatory Institute before pursuing acting.
In the early 1990s, Reddick attended the Yale School of Drama, eventually earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1994.
Despite landing high-profile roles on TV shows like The Wire, Reddick managed to keep his private life out of the spotlight.