‘Oz,’ ‘Chi-Raq’ actor Anthony Chisholm dead at 77

Anthony Chisholm, a veteran stage, film and television actor, died Friday, according to his talent agency. He was 77.

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No cause of death was given.

“The Katz Company is saddened to announce the passing of our longtime friend and client, Tony nominee, Anthony Chisholm," the Katz Company said in a statement. “Affectionately called ‘Chiz,’ he was an actor and storyteller like none other, embodying loyalty, devotion, and compassion to his artistry.”

Chisholm played Burr Redding in the HBO series “Oz” for three seasons and had a role in Spike Lee’s film “Chi-Raq,” the Los Angeles Times reported. He also appeared in the Tony-winning revival of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” the newspaper reported.

Chisholm also appeared on Broadway in “Two Trains Running.”

Chisholm was born April 9, 1943, in Cleveland and served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war, Entertainment Weekly reported.

He made his screen debut in “Uptight” in 1968 and also appeared in “Beloved,” “Putney Swope” and Lee’s “Chi-Raq," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Chisholm’s television credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” “High Maintenance" and “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” the magazine reported.

Born April 9, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, Chisholm served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War before embarking on his acting career. He made his screen debut in Uptight in 1968, later appearing in such films as the cult classic Putney Swope, Jonathan Demme’s Beloved, Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq, and more. On TV, Chisholm appeared on Law & Order: SVU, High Maintenance, and last year’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, among other shows, and played Burr Redding on HBO’s Oz for three seasons.

During his career, Chisholm received the NAACP Theatre Award, UDELCO Award, Ovation Award, and IRNE Award, according to Variety. He received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Elder Joseph Barlow in the final installment of “Radio Golf,” the Times reported.

Chisholm continued to perform in “Jitney” on its national tour, which ran from September 2019 through February 2020, Entertainment Weekly reported.

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Dawn Wells FILE PHOTO: Actress Dawn Wells attends the 2015 TV Land Awards at Saban Theatre on April 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. Wells died Wednesday of illness related to COVID-19. She was 82. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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