The movie world is mourning over the news that Lance Reddick, one of the most talented and dependable supporting actors of his era, passed away unexpectedly on March 17 at the age of 60. A veteran of television, film and voice acting roles, Reddick was a beloved presence on screens, and tributes have poured in from fans and coworkers across the mediums of entertainment he inhabited with unmatched authority and humor.

One of his most prominent roles in recent times was as Charon, the reliable right-hand man of Ian McShane's Winston, in the John Wick film series. As the concierge at the Continental Hotel's New York branch, safe haven for assassins operating under the rules of the High Table, Charon was called upon for various tasks, but it was more than simple busywork. His efforts were even more vital than they might first appear, and Reddick's time as Charon is a major part of why the series' intricate lore works.

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Lance Reddick's Charon Made the World of John Wick Feel Real

Lance Reddick's Charon staring at John Wick

The concept of an underground world of assassins is a tried and true one in fiction, to the point of almost being considered rote. It works in the John Wick series, however, because it is established early on that everything operates through certain sets of rules. Charon operates as another part of this shadowy mechanism, enforcing the Continental's rules of business and ensuring that everyone on the grounds is treated with the appropriate respect. This helped to make it all feel more grounded and believable; Reddick's portrayal added credibility that the fantastical gun-fu action might not have otherwise had. He also has a soft spot for Wick, which lends the world a greater feeling of history and helps the audience further understand the gravity of Wick's skill in such a world.

In the prequel comics, it is shown that this respect comes in part from an incident where Wick saved Charon's life and the latter swore a life debt. That the two of them have this strong bond despite both being, at least to some degree, stoic and professional characters has helped make them more than the one-dimensional types that often inhabit these sorts of movies. Charon even took care of Wick's dog in the second film. Similarly, when Charon was called upon by Winston to help fake Wick's death at the end of Chapter 3, his refusal to be troubled even by the potential end of his life's work and the deaths of his loyal staff at the Continental reinforces the gravity and realism of his character and subsequently the world.

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Charon's Believability Hinged on Lance Reddick's Performance

Reddick's portrayal of Charon as a consummate professional is another key aspect of the character. This is most noticeable in John Wick: Chapter 3, in which Charon and his boss assist Wick despite his excommunicated status. A squad of SWAT-like soldiers was sent to kill them and the rest of the Continental's staff, and though the situation was primarily a glimpse of Wick under unprecedented duress, it also showed Charon under the same stress. He did not hesitate to do what he thought was right even though it went against the same regulations that he had evidently spent decades enforcing. Though he was technically under instruction from Winston on how to proceed, Charon did not object and instead cooperated with his boss' subversion. Some noted that this turn may have been antithetical to the professional Charon, but Reddick sold it perfectly, and that was indicative of so much about both of them.

Reddick's acting is one of the most important aspects of the character; it is a role that simply would not work as well were it to be played by anyone else. It's also interesting to note that Reddick played a very similar role to Josh Brolin's Jonah Hex in the maligned movie of the same name; the similarity is in part indicative of the kind of part in which Reddick was often cast. His characters were often authority figures, but they were also men of principle and conviction, who were capable of defending those beliefs when necessary. His time on the seminal crime show The Wire, as well as him being one of the best parts of JJ Abrams' Fringe and Amazon's Bosch also point to this trend. In an article on Reddick's predilection for playing these types of characters, Rolling Stone stated that few could portray them with "as much magnetism, conviction and nuance." These portrayals are why Charon is such a beloved part of the John Wick franchise, to the degree that he was planned to be included in Ana de Armas' spinoff Ballerina.

Though Reddick had many roles for which he will be fondly remembered, Charon was one of his most enduring, and one of those that best exemplified the kind of person he brought to life for millions from the biggest screen to the smallest. He was not simply talented, but possessed a rare and memorable presence and power; he was one of 'those' actors who everyone knew by face if not by name, and he will be remembered fondly by those whose lives he touched in myriad ways across his life and career.

Lance's wife, Stephanie Reddick, has requested that donations in Lance's honor be made to momcares.org.