https://www.essence.com/news/reg-e-cathey-dead-house-cards-wire-actor

Reg E. Cathey, actor in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Wire, and House of Cards, has passed away at the age of 59.

TMZ broke the news Friday night. The actor had been battling lung cancer and passed away at his home in New York surrounded by friends and family. 

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Cathey was well known for his role as Freddy in Netflix’s House of Cards, for which he won an Emmy in 2015. He also starred opposite Oprah Winfrey and Renée Elise Goldsberry in HBO’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as Zakariyya. 

The Wire creator David Simon took to Twitter to share heartfelt words about the actor, writing, “Not only a fine, masterful actor — but simply one of the most delightful human beings with whom I ever shared some long days on set. On wit alone, he could double any man over and leave him thinking. Reg, your memory is a great blessing.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cathey’s friends and family.