STUDIO CITY, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 19: Actor Lance Reddick visits 'The IMDb Show' on June 19, 2019 in Studio City, California. This episode of 'The IMDb Show' airs on July 18, 2019. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb)
Actor Lance Reddick’s cause of death was reportedly declared earlier this week, but now his attorney is disputing how he died.
The Wire star’s death certificate, first made public by TMZ early Thursday, listed his immediate cause of death as ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
However, Reddick’s attorney James Hornstein issued a statement to PEOPLE just hours after TMZ released the report. He claims no autopsy was performed and “no medical exam of Lance during his lifetime ever indicated such conditions.”
“I have represented Lance Reddick for many years and continue to represent his wife Stephanie. The coroner statement on the death certificate is not a result of an autopsy. No autopsy was performed on Lance. To my knowledge, no medical examination of Lance during his lifetime ever indicated such conditions,” read the statement.
“Lance was the most physically fit person I’ve ever known,” Hornstein continued. “He exercised daily at his home gym, including extensive cardio work, and the availability of gym facilities was a contractual requirement for his work away from home. He ate as if a dietician was monitoring his every meal. The information appearing on the death certificate is wholly inconsistent with his lifestyle.”
The statement concluded:
“On behalf of Stephanie Reddick, the death certificate information is not corroborated and is inconsistent with the facts known to the family.”
Hornstein did not comment on whether or not Reddick, who was 60, will be cremated as per TMZ’s report.
Reddick’s body was discovered inside his home on March 17, as previously reported by The Shade Room.
The actor’s reps confirmed he had passed away “from natural causes” in a statement released after his death.
“Lance was best known for his roles in The Wire, Bosch, Netflix’s Resident Evil and the John Wick films,” the statement continued.
The statement said that “he is survived by his wife Stephanie Reddick and children Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick. Adding, “Lance will be greatly missed. Please respect his family’s privacy at this time.”
At the time of his death, Reddick planned to appear in several projects, including the White Men Can’t Jump reboot, the role of Zeus in 2024’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and the John Wick spin-off Ballerina.
