Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialised in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, has died at the age of 60.

Reddick died “suddenly” Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. No further details were provided.

Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on The Wire paid tribute on Twitter. “A man of great strength and grace,” he wrote. “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class.” John Wick — Chapter Four director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves said they dedicating the upcoming film to Reddick and were “deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss.”

Throughout his career, Reddick was frequently cast as tall, reserved, and distinguished men of distinction, generally wearing a suit or a sharp uniform. The hit HBO series The Wire, where his character was agonisingly caught in the murky intrigues of the Baltimore police department, made him most famous for his portrayal of the stiff-upper Lt. Cedric Daniels.

The Wire creator David Simon praised Reddick on Twitter: “Consummate professional, devoted collaborator, lovely and gentle man, loyal friend. Could go on, but no, I can’t go on. This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon.”