The Wire Cast: Where Are They Now?
17. Larry Gilliard Jr
Perhaps the best performance in the entirety of The Wire is given by Lawrence Gilliard Jr, whose portrayal of D’Angelo Barksdale gives the first couple of seasons its soul, and motivation for much of its plot. As a remorseful gangster, D’Angelo isn’t a wholly original creation, but Gilliard Jr is able to give his character an immense amount of personality, creating a tragic figure out of a morally questionable guy.
With that in mind, it’s disappointing that he has not become a far bigger star in the aftermath. He has taken the odd role in small-to-medium scale movies like The Double and Would You Rather, generally in minor parts.
He’s fared better on TV, enjoying a significant run on The Walking Dead as the complex Bob Stookey. He also reunited with Wire creator David Simon for ‘70s porn drama The Deuce, in which he made up part of another impeccable sprawling ensemble cast.
Gilliard Jr is an accomplished theatre actor who starred in Pulitzer Prize winner Topdog/Underdog, but is still deserving of far more in his career off the back of The Wire alone.