Reg E. Cathey
Actor
Norman Wilson on The Wire.
In memoriam · August 18, 1958 – February 9, 2018
Overview
Reg E. Cathey brought a resonant voice and dry intelligence to Norman Wilson, the former newspaper editor working alongside Tommy Carcetti in The Wire’s political world. Norman’s value was not simply as an aide who explained campaign mechanics: his perspective helped expose the distance between a politician’s ideals and the bargains required to advance. Cathey arrived with a substantial career already behind him, including Oz, American Psycho and a Broadway debut in The Green Bird. Born in Huntsville, Alabama, he spent part of his childhood in Germany and later studied at the University of Michigan and Yale School of Drama. [New York Times obituary, via WRAL](https://www.wral.com/archive/17327379/). After The Wire, his best-known television role was Freddy Hayes, the barbecue restaurateur in House of Cards. The performance brought three consecutive Emmy nominations from 2014 through 2016 and a 2015 guest-actor win. Cathey also played Dr. Franklin Storm in the 2015 Fantastic Four and appeared on the London stage as Red in The Shawshank Redemption. His final filmed role was James Lucas in Marvel’s Luke Cage, extending his career into another major television franchise. Cathey died in New York City on February 9, 2018, aged 59. [Television Academy biography and awards](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/reg-e-cathey).
Quick Facts
- Known for
- T, h, e,
- Occupation
- Actor
- Born
- August 18, 1958 in Huntsville
- Died
- February 9, 2018
- First credit
- 2002