The official cause of death for Lance Reddick, who died of ischemic heart disease in March, is being openly contested by his lawyer, James Hornstein — who remains unconvinced that “the most physically fit person” he ever knew died at 60 from hardened arteries.
“Lance was the most physically fit person I’ve ever known,” Hornstein told ET on Friday. “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.”
Hornstein added that Reddick “ate as if a dietician was monitoring his every meal.”
“The information appearing on the death certificate is wholly inconsistent with his lifestyle,” he told the outlet. “On behalf of [his wife] Stephanie Reddick, the death certificate information is not corroborated and is inconsistent with the facts known to the family.”
Reddick’s death certificate was first obtained by TMZ and listed atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in addition to ischemic heart disease. The former denotes “a buildup of fats” in the artery walls, per the Mayo Clinic, while the latter regards fatally low blood flow.
Hornstein told ET that “the coroner statement on the death certificate is not a result of an autopsy,” however. He added that “no autopsy was performed” on Reddick and that “no medical examination of Lance during his lifetime ever indicated such conditions.”
Reddick was cremated, making any future autopsy impossible. Hornstein continues to represent Reddick’s grieving widow, who recently expressed her appreciation for his fans — who reportedly held an honorary session of Destiny 2, his favourite video game.
“Lance was taken from us far too soon,” wrote Stephanie. “Thank you for all your overwhelming love, support, and beautiful stories shared on these platforms over the last day. I see your messages and can’t begin to express how grateful I am to have them.”
Reddick, best known for his work on The Wire series and John Wick franchise, is survived by his wife and two children. News of his death spurred solemn tributes online by the likes of Keanu Reeves, former Wire colleague Wendell Pierce and Ben Stiller.