Prop Joe, RIP

January 18th, 2013 by Erik Loomis

Robert Chew, who played Prop Joe in The Wire, has passed. One of the greatest roles in one of the greatest television shows in history.

Posted in General | 17 comments

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17 comments on this post.

  1. mark f:

    January 18th, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    Look the part, be the part, motherfucker.

  2. wjts:

    January 18th, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Sad news. This bit was always my favorite, though “Look the part, be the part, motherfucker” comes awful close.

  3. Clark:

    January 18th, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    Shiiiit!

  4. Jim Lynch:

    January 18th, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    I remember being bummed when the actor who played Jesus on Hill Street Blues was killed in a traffic accident.

    But I’ve yet to see The Wire, and have only heard raves about it. What made it so compelling?

  5. UberMitch:

    January 18th, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    Well, it was inevitable that Marlo would have to hit him eventually.

  6. Linnaeus:

    January 18th, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    It’s amazingly written and acted. The character development is outstanding; everyone is multi-faceted and it’s not a simple “good” vs. “bad” story. The main story thread deals with a group of Baltimore Police detectives and the drug crews they’re trying to bust, but the series deals with a lot of other aspects of urban life, politics, etc.. It really goes deep into sociopolitical themes, and Baltimore is a good setting because so much of what afflicts American cities can be found there. Poverty, crime, corruption, urban depopulation, economic change, etc. are all touched upon and the writers really weave all of those elements together very well.

    Some seasons are better than others, but I like them all. I would say it’s one of the top five American TV shows ever made. Easily.

  7. Warren Terra:

    January 18th, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    The humanity. Nobody is a raving psychopath, nobody is Galahad – or, to the extent they try to be either, you are shown how neither is real, how neither works. Outcomes aren’t certain, and aren’t necessarily solid or clear. And the writing and acting are incredible (Dominic Monaghan’s character and acting being perhaps a bit more controversial).

  8. Linnaeus:

    January 18th, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    I think you mean Dominic West (Jimmy McNulty) or Domenick Lombardozzi (Thomas “Herc” Hauk).

  9. Peter Hovde:

    January 18th, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    Just buy for a dollar, sell for two.

  10. Clark:

    January 18th, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Glad you replied, I was searching for something more articulate than that it is really, really good.

  11. Erik Loomis:

    January 18th, 2013 at 9:08 pm

    Season 4 is the most brilliant discussion of the challenges of public education in poor cities of the 21st century.

  12. Warren Terra:

    January 18th, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    Er, yes, Dominic West. Not sure where the other one came from. Herc isn’t my favorite character, but he doesn’t have the problems of McNulty.

  13. timb:

    January 18th, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    again?

  14. Decrease Mather:

    January 18th, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Dominic Monaghan’s had a heroin addiction, if I recall correctly.

  15. snarkout:

    January 19th, 2013 at 9:56 am

    What Linnaeus said. Also! Even though the realism of the show takes a sharp downward turn starting in season 3, the first four seasons are beautiful examples of show-don’t-tell moralizing. There are more good parts for African-American actors than any show in the history of television. Amazingly quotable dialogue from a handful of crimewriting greats (George Pelecanos, Richard Price, Denny Lehane) alongside Simon and his longtime collaborator Ed Burns.

    The first season stands on its own (and is I think the strongest season, although nods to season 4).

  16. Matt:

    January 19th, 2013 at 10:27 am

    When you read the obituary it seems a little cavalier to go on about “Prop Joe”. Prop Joe is a fictional character and lives forever. Robert Chew died. At 52.

    How good an actor was Robert Chew? Be honest, didn’t you figure he was one of the former dealers Simon sprinkled throughout the show? Didn’t you think the guy was just playing a version of himself?
    Read the obituary and you see what a great performance that was.

    Another great artist waiting til death before people start commenting on how great he actually was.

    I’m going to say nice things about Andre Royo today.

  17. danah gaz:

    January 21st, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    RIP Chew. I loved your character, but Omar (Williams) is yummy.

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