The premiere party of “John Wick 4” on Monday in Los Angeles was overshadowed by the death of Lance Reddick (1962-2023). The actor, who starred in all four installments of the action series, died unexpectedly of natural causes on March 16. He was 60 years old.
According to media reports, the guests at the premiere party wore ribbons in Reddick’s favorite color blue as a memento. At the beginning of the event, spectators rose to a standing ovation for the deceased. Applause also erupted when Reddick’s character Charon first appeared on screen. In the action franchise, the actor played the concierge at the Continental Hotel, the favorite abode of professional killers.
Keanu Reeves didn’t use the past tense when speaking about his late colleague on the red carpet. “Lance is a people person, a special artist, a gentleman with grace and dignity,” said the John Wick actor. “It’s really special to see the passion he has for his work every time he walks on set. He’s really easy to work with.”
“Just being in his light and his presence and having the chance to work with him – every day was special,” Keanu Reeves reported elsewhere of the late colleague.
Laurence Fishburne (61) fought back tears in an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter”. He referred to Lance Reddick as “the heart of the film in many ways”. “We lost our brother, but we made a beautiful film, it’s the best of all, and I think people are going to love it, and that’s the point, isn’t it? He wouldn’t want to that we don’t.”
Chad Stahelski (54), director of all four “John Wick” films, remembered Lance Reddick’s first day on the set during the premiere. “What can I do better?” The actor asked about his first takes. But Stahelski and David Leitch (47), his directing partner on the first film, asked back: “Lance, we really don’t know what we’re doing, but please help us.” It was the first directing work by the two former stunt coordinators.
“He just took us through the first day of shooting with him,” said Stahelski. “He was so kind, so generous, and we still joke about it to this day. He was always the most cooperative and positive person I’ve ever met.”
“John Wick 4” will start in German cinemas on March 23.
