Isiah Whitlock Jr., known for his memorable performances in “The Wire” and “Veep,” has died at the age of 71, according to his agent.

“It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr,” manager Brian Liebman wrote on Instagram.

Whitlock, who also had roles in Goodfellas and Chappelle’s Show, is a long-time collaborator of director Spike Lee, who also paid a heartfelt tribute to him.

“Today I learned that my dear brother Isaiah Whitlock passed away. God bless,” Lee wrote, alongside a photo of the two shaking hands.

“If you knew him, you loved him. He was a great actor and an even better person,” Liebman wrote.

“May his memory always be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. We will miss him so, so much.”

He added in a statement to the Hollywood news outlet that Whitlock died in New York after a brief illness.

In The Wire, Whitlock played a corrupt politician and became known for his profane slogans, which Whitlock himself invented.

He said in a 2008 interview that the quote was based on his uncle, who also said it in the same tone in other films before debuting on HBO’s The Wire.

Throughout his career, he was recognized for his extended versions of commonly used spells.

“I think, I was at Grand Central Station, far away, and I heard someone say that and they would smile,” he said in the interview. “I’m glad people like it.”

In “Veep,” he played a zany version of the U.S. secretary of defense running for office alongside the title character played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Whitlock appeared in six Spike Lee films, including “25,” “She Hates Me,” “Red Hook Summer,” “Chi-Raq,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “Da 500.”

The South Bend, Indiana, native has also had roles in the films “April,” “Enchanted,” “Cars 3” and “Lightyear” and on the TV series “Law & Order.”