Reginald E Cathey, who played pivotal roles in House of Cards and The Wire, has died at the age of 59.
The actor passed away at his home in New York, surrounded by friends and family, after battling lung cancer.
On House of Cards, Cathey played Freddy, owner of Francis Underwood's favourite BBQ diner. The role earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest in 2015.
He also famously played the mayor's aide, Norman Wilson, on several seasons of The Wire, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV show ever made.
Cathey was a hard-working character actor in Hollywood for more than 30 years with dozens of roles on TV and in movies including Oz, Law & Order: SVU, Fantastic Four, The Mask and SWAT.
He can currently be seen in  HBO movie The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, alongside Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne, which is available to download on Sky Box Sets and NOW TV
He was also extremely close to The Wire creator David Simon, and is the only actor Simon hired to work on every one of his TV shows.
Simon tweeted: "Reg Cathey, 1958-2018. 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."

Cathey's The Wire co-star Wendell Pierce also tweeted: "We lost a masterful actor, a sonorous voice, a great colleague, and a kind friend," he wrote.

"A more gregarious human being you could not find. A man whose presence was always a blessing and joy. I’m hard pressed to remember a moment of anger. A beautiful human being who will be missed."