Lance Reddick’s cause of death disputed by family lawyer

A lawyer who represented The Wire actor for years has rejected a coroner’s finding, saying it is “wholly inconsistent with his lifestyle”.

The family of Lance Reddick (centre) has disputed a coroner’s finding. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

Actor Lance Reddick’s family lawyer has released a statement disputing his cause of death.

Lawyer James Hornstein said Thursday that the actor’s lifetime of personal fitness seems to contradict a statement from the coroner that Reddick died of heart disease, according to a statement given to Fox News Digital. He also said Reddick’s body did not undergo an official autopsy.

Reddick was found dead in his California home on March 17.

According to Reddick’s death certificate, which TMZ obtained and made public, his cause of death was ischaemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Hours after its release, Hornstein said “the information appearing on the death certificate is wholly inconsistent with his lifestyle.”

Lance Reddick with his wife, Stephanie. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

“I have represented Lance Reddick for many years and continue to represent his wife Stephanie. The coroner’s statement on the death certificate is not a result of an autopsy. No autopsy was performed on Lance. To my knowledge, no medical examination of Lance during his lifetime ever indicated such conditions,” Hornstein added in the statement.

“Lance was the most physically fit person I’ve ever known. 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,” the lawyer said. “He ate as if a dietitian was monitoring his every meal.”

He concluded, “On behalf of Stephanie Reddick, the death certificate information is not corroborated and is inconsistent with the facts known to the family.”

The Baltimore-born Reddick was 60 when he died “suddenly” due to natural causes Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen confirmed in a statement to the Associated Press.

He was perhaps best known for his leading role as straight-laced Baltimore police lieutenant Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series The Wire.

Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels in The Wire.

He also starred as a loyal hotel manager Charon in the John Wick films — including the most recent release, John Wick: Chapter 4, which is still in theatres.

The franchise’s lead star Keanu Reeves candidly spoke out about Reddick after his death and expressed that it “f***ing sucks he’s not here.”

“Lance was a beautiful person, a special artist … a man of grace and dignity … such a passion for his craft,” Reeves said during an interview with Deadline.

On the day of Reddick’s death, Reeves and John Wick director Chad Stahelski released a joint statement to Deadline saying, “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick.

“He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends. We dedicate the film to his loving memory. We will miss him dearly.”

Reddick was also a prolific voice actor in several video game titles, including a central character in the Destiny franchise.

This article was originally published by Fox News and reproduced with permission

Originally published as Lance Reddick’s cause of death disputed by family lawyer