# RIP Reg E. Cathey **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573 "2018-02-10T04:49:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/1 "2018-02-10T04:49:21Z")
You may not recognize [the name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_E._Cathey) instantly but he was in a lot of stuff. Most notably (to others) he was in _The Wire_ and _House of Cards_. Most notably to me, because I’m a big dork, he was in _Square One TV_. For 30 years now every time I see him I only ever think of him as “the guy from Square One”. He was only 59. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/2 "2018-02-10T05:01:32Z")
This dude is one of my favorite character actors. Always brought SUCH a memorable vibe to whatever role he was playing. I remember him best as Wilson from The Wire, the newspaper reporter turned sneaky backroom campaign manager; Querns from Oz, the corrupt warden in one of the later seasons who replaces McManus; and, strangely, as the homeless guy in the alley that Patrick Bateman stabs to death in a horrifically surreal scene in _American Psycho_. He had an awesome voice. One of those faces/voices you always recognize wherever he pops up because he’s so distinctive. Only 59, that’s way too young, too…probably a heavy cigarette smoker if his voice is any indication. RIP, Reg. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/3 "2018-02-10T05:23:43Z")
Yep, Square One TV is what I’ll always remember him for. I couldn’t make it far in The Wire, but I saw him in season 1 of House of Cards and he was delightful. Only the good die young. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/4 "2018-02-10T12:57:13Z")
Don’t forget his pivotal role as the werewolf dad of Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/5 "2018-02-11T01:29:17Z")
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who remembers him most for Square One. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/6 "2018-02-11T01:33:02Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > he was in _Square One TV_. So that’s why I recognized the name. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/7 "2018-02-11T04:12:12Z")
I recognize him from his appearances on the L&O franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Miles\_Standoffish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/54ee81/32.png) [@Miles\_Standoffish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miles_Standoffish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/8 "2018-02-11T04:32:21Z")
I met him at a party years ago, without a clue of who he was. I found out later how many things he was in and how extremely well-loved and respected he was by his peers. I was really sorry to hear of his passing. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/9 "2018-02-15T16:48:12Z")
Here’s a “Life After People” type documentary narrated by Cathey: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/m7ys1zrY7nc/maxresdefault.jpg "WHEN THE EARTH STOPS SPINNING National Geographic Aftermath S01E04") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ys1zrY7nc) ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-reg-e-cathey/808573/10 "2018-02-16T05:55:42Z")
I loved him in Square One. Unfortunately, I always confused him with Giancarlo Esposito. RIP, Mr. Cathey.