“John Wick” star Lance Reddick died suddenly last month in his Los Angeles home at the age of 60. The Hollywood actor’s cause of death was reportedly unveiled on Thursday.
On March 17, Reddick reportedly collapsed in the backyard of his home in the Studio City neighborhood. Reddick’s wife, Stephanie, found him unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead that day.
At the time of Reddick’s sudden death, the actor’s spokesperson informed the public that “The Wire” star had died of natural causes, but did not elaborate.
On Thursday, TMZ reported that Reddick died of ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
The American Heart Association defines ischemic heart disease as heart problems “caused by narrowed heart arteries,” which limits the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches the heart muscle. The health condition can cause a heart attack. Ischemic heart disease – also known as coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease – can be “caused by a blood clot or by constriction of the blood vessel,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
The NIH notes that ischemic heart disease is most often caused by a buildup of plaque, called atherosclerosis.
The Mayo Clinic states that atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis caused by the “buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.”
“This buildup is called plaque,” the medical organization added. “The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. The plaque can also burst, leading to a blood clot.”
TMZ claimed to have obtained the late actor’s death certificate — which said Reddick was cremated.
However, Reddick’s lawyer has disputed the actor’s cause of death cited on the death certificate.
“I have represented Lance Reddick for many years and continue to represent his wife Stephanie,” attorney James Hornstein told People magazine. “The coroner statement on the death certificate is not a result of an autopsy. No autopsy was performed on Lance.”
Hornstein stressed, “To my knowledge, no medical examination of Lance during his lifetime ever indicated such conditions.”
“Lance was the most physically fit person I’ve ever known,” Hornstein continued. “He exercised daily at his home gym, including extensive cardio work, and the availability of gym facilities was a contractual requirement for his work away from home. He ate as if a dietician was monitoring his every meal. The information appearing on the death certificate is wholly inconsistent with his lifestyle.”
The statement concluded, “On behalf of Stephanie Reddick, the death certificate information is not corroborated and is inconsistent with the facts known to the family.”
Reddick had been actively promoting “John Wick: Chapter 4” right before he suddenly died. Reddick had appeared in every “John Wick” movie as Continental Hotel concierge Charon.
During the “John Wick: Chapter 4” premiere in Los Angeles on March 20, Reddick’s co-stars wore blue ribbons to pay tribute to the departed actor.
Keanu Reeves told Deadline at the premiere, “Lance was a beautiful person, a special artist [and] a man of grace and dignity [with] such a passion for his craft. And to have had the chance to work with him over the 10 years and four films [in the franchise] is something that is very special to me.”
Director Chad Stahelski said of Reddick, “When someone’s both a mentor and they’re working for you, they’re teaching you as you learn. I had him in my life for 10 years. That’s literally a gift. Lance was a great guy and a great human.”
Reddick had a prolific acting career, appearing in 112 TV shows and movies such as “Oz,” “Bosch,” “Fringe,” “The Blacklist,” “Godzilla Vs. Kong,” “Numbers,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “CSI: Miami,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
At the time of his death, Reddick was involved in several projects. He was cast as Zeus in the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” was set to play a major role in the “White Men Can’t Jump” remake, and was slated to reprise his Charon character in the “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina.”
Reddick’s wife, Stephanie Reddick, said of her husband’s death, “Lance was taken from us far too soon. Thank you for all your overwhelming love, support, and beautiful stories shared on these platforms over the last day. I see your messages and can’t begin to express how grateful I am to have them. And to the thousands of Destiny players who played in special tribute to Lance, thank you. Lance loved you as much as he loved the game.”
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