Tony nominee Anthony Chisholm dead at 77
Viola Davis, Susan Kelechi Watson, and more stars paid tribute to the Tony-nominated actor.
Tony nominated actor Anthony Chisholm has died. He was 77. His talent management company The Katz Company announced the news with a post on Instagram on Friday (Oct. 16.) The company did not reveal a cause of death at this time.
“The Katz Company is saddened to announce the passing of our longtime friend and client, Tony-Nominee, Anthony Chisholm,” the company’s statement reads. “Affectionately called ‘Chiz,’ he was an actor and storyteller like none-other, embodying loyalty, devotion, and compassion to his artistry. We lost a great one today.”
Chisholm’s long acting career included work on Broadway, film and television. According to Deadline, he made his film debut in the 1968 movie Uptight, and his acting career continued with Putney Swope in 1969 and Cotton Comes to Harlem in 1970. He also starred in Beloved, Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq and others. He had roles in Law & Order: SVU, High Maintenance, Wu-Tang: An American Saga and starred as Burr Redding on HBO’s Oz for three seasons.
He earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Elder Joseph Barlow in playwright August Wilson’s play, Radio Golf, in 2007. Chisholm and Wilson collaborated several times through the years. Throughout his career, the actor received the NAACP Theatre Award, the AUDELCO Award, the Ovation Award, and the I.R.N.E. Award.
His fellow actors and former co-stars began reacting to the news of his death on Friday and sent their condolences. Viola Davis wrote a touching tribute for the late actor on Twitter on Saturday (Oct. 17).
“Oh man!! Why did I think you would live forever? Love you Anthony….The acting world will miss your wisdom, your immense talent, your generosity. You were a survivor. Goodnight King. Sleep well. You earned it. 💛 #RIPAnthonyChisholm,” Davis wrote. Orlando Jones responded to her message, writing: “Goodnight King. Thank you for uplifting young ones like me. I am forever in your debt. With gratitude and tremendous respect.”
Wendell Pierce also reacted to the news on Twitter. “Anthony Chisholm gave two of the defining performances of our generation: ‘Fielding’ in Jitney and ‘Citizen Barlow’ in Gem Of The Ocean. A member of the unofficial August Wilson repertory company of actors, he introduced the world to the work of this legendary playwright,” the actor wrote.
“An amazing actor and an amazing presence. Grateful to have witnessed his work. Rest peacefully, Anthony,” This Is Us actress Susan Kelechi Watson wrote on Twitter.
Chisholm is survived by his son, Alexander Chisholm, his daughter, Che Chisholm, his son-in-law, Peter Vietro-Hannum and grandchildren, Ravi and Avani Vietro.
REVOLT would like to send our condolences to the actor’s loved ones at this time.