Lance Reddick had always dreamt of making a name for himself as a musician, never as an actor. His unforgettable and powerful roles such as Lt. Cedric Daniels on “The Wire” (HBO, 2002- ) and Detective John Basil on “Oz” (HBO, 1997-2003), however, made it evident that Mader was born to do both. In 2008, he joined the cast of “Lost” (ABC, 2004- ) as the mysterious and somewhat sinister Matthew Abaddon.
Born in Baltimore, MD, Reddick loved to watch TV while growing up. He had an older brother, but there was such an age difference, the actor later said it seemed like he was an only child. Music was always his first love, but he still participated in acting productions, including a performance of the “Macbeth” soliloquy in seventh grade English class. After attending the Quaker High School of Friends School in Baltimore, Reddick moved to Rochester, NY to study at Eastman School of Music. He focused on getting a singing career going while working part time jobs to make ends meet. A back injury forced him to quit singing, but in a stroke of good luck, he soon he found himself accepted to Yale’s graduate school for drama.
Attending drama school worked out to Reddick’s advantage. He booked very small roles early in his career, appearing in films like “Godzilla” (1998), “The Siege” (1998), and shows like “The West Wing” (NBC, 1999-2006). His big break came when he was cast in HBO’s prison drama “Oz” as Desmond Mobay. Reddick had not seen an episode of the show before getting cast, but his agent believed the role was perfect for him. The 6’4” actor would later describe the “Oz” experience as phenomenal. He also appeared on numerous TV shows, including appearances in “Law and Order” (NBC, 1990- ) and its spin-offs, “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 1999- ) and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” (NBC, 2001- ). With each new role, Reddick showed his versatility in his work, playing characters with realism and intensity, whether they were working for the law or breaking it.
“The Wire,” a show which dealt with Baltimore’s drug scene as seen through the eyes of the city’s law enforcement and its drug dealers, was Reddick’s next TV venture. He wowed critics and audiences once again, although it was quite a process for him winning the role of Lt. Cedric Daniels. He auditioned four times for the role of Detective William “Bunk” Moreland, but the role eventually went to another actor, Wendell Pierce. Not to be defeated, Reddick kept auditioning. He was asked to read for the part of Bubbles and became the second choice for the part, after Andre Royo, who actually landed the part. Despite coming this close time and time again, the show was not willing to let go of the talented actor and soon found the role that ultimately fit him best. After two weeks of unsuccessful auditions for the show, Reddick finally got the part of Lt. Daniels. “My life changed after that,” he admitted. The show also held a special place in the actor’s heart because it was filmed in his hometown; so much so, that during the first season of “The Wire,” Reddick was asked to be a graduation speaker at his Alma Mater.
When the Writers Guild of America went on strike in 2008, the fate of many TV shows were left in question. One such series was ABC’s hit “Lost,” which only had eight episodes of its fourth season in the can right before the strike. The season introduced a handful of new actors to the show, including Reddick, who was cast as a mysterious yet seemingly powerful figure named Matthew Abaddon. He became the third “Oz” actor to also appear in “Lost,” including Harold Perrineau and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
Branching out to films, Reddick spent much of 2008 working in features like “The Way of War” with Cuba Gooding, Jr., “Tennessee” with Mariah Carey, and “Fringe” with Joshua Jackson and Charlotte Rampling. Even with a successful career in TV and film, the actor never forgot his love for music, releasing an EP that he made available on his web site www.lancereddick.com.