Ed Wheeler obit

Ed Wheeler Dies: Veteran Actor In ‘Law & Order’, ‘Blue Bloods’, Other Series & Films Was 88

 He was not on the list.

Ed Wheeler, a veteran actor who appeared in Law & Order, Blue Bloods, Broadcast News, Mickey Blue Eyes and many other films, TV shows, stage productions and commercials, has died. He was 88.

His wife, Messeret Stroman Wheeler, told Deadline that he died August 21 at Englewood (NJ) Hospital of respiratory failure due to pneumonia complications.

Born on February 18, 1936, in Brooklyn, Wheeler got his start in showbiz doing TV commercials, including national ads for the likes of Luvs diapers, Reynolds Wrap, Sudafed, Pepcid AC, Computer Associates and many others.

He trained under Gene Frankel and Vin Diesel’s stepfather Irving Vincent and earned his first screen credits on such TV series as Watch Your Mouth, 3-2-1 Contact and The Core of the Apple. Wheeler’s first film role was opposite William Hurt, Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter in James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News (1987).

He went on to appear in such films as Presumed Innocent, Thinner, Daylight, the 1998 Godzilla, Mickey Blue Eyes, Head of State, The Good Guy and The Good Heart.

Wheeler guested on a half-dozen episodes of the landmark NBC drama Law & Order from 1992-2004 and also did episodes of popular series including Ed, Soul Food, Third Watch, New York Undercover, Hope & Faith and One Life to Live. He also worked with Bill Cosby on Cosby and as a voice actor on Little Bill. His most recent credit was a 2010 episode of Blue Bloods.

An alum of the Negro Ensemble Company, Wheeler’s stage credits include Melody in Search of a Base Note, The Dance on Widow’s Row, The Waiting Room, Zooman and the Sign, The Little Tommy Parker’s Celebrated Colored Minstrel Show and Cuttin’ Up.

In 2017, Wheeler was honored with the Living Legend Award from the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, honoring his contributions to American theater and the broader entertainment industry.

Wheeler and his wife formed a production company and supported a number of artistic organizations. In 2023, they made their debut as co-executive producers with the short film Keepers of the Flame.

“His life was a testament to perseverance, creativity and the power of generosity and kindness,” said Stroman Wheeler, an actor who has guested on The Sopranos, Law & Order and other series and done videogame voice-overs. “Ed will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”

Along with his wife, Wheeler is survived by nieces, nephews and extended family.

Actor

Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)

Blue Bloods

7.7

TV Series

Councilman Welsh

2010

1 episode

 

Kristen Alderson, Kassie Wesley DePaiva, Erika Slezak, Trevor St. John, and John-Paul Lavoisier in One Life to Live (1968)

One Life to Live

6.9

TV Series

Perry

2010

1 episode

 

The Good Heart (2009)

The Good Heart

6.8

Jonathan

2009

 

Cupid (2009)

Cupid

7.1

TV Series

Doorman

2009

1 episode

 

Alexis Bledel, Bryan Greenberg, and Scott Porter in The Good Guy (2009)

The Good Guy

5.7

Irv

2009

 

Uncertainty (2008)

Uncertainty

5.7

Earl Sherman

2008

 

The Cry (2007)

The Cry

2.7

Officer Owens

2007

 

Faith Ford and Kelly Ripa in Hope & Faith (2003)

Hope & Faith

5.5

TV Series

Judge

2004

1 episode

 

From Other Worlds (2004)

From Other Worlds

5.0

Guard

2004

 

Abigail Breslin in Keane (2004)

Keane

6.8

1st Bus Driver

Ticket Taker

2004

 

Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Matt Sturges

Carl Dunston

Reverend Jared Young ...

1992–2004

6 episodes

 

Whoopi Goldberg, Wren T. Brown, Omid Djalili, and Elizabeth Regen in Whoopi (2003)

Whoopi

6.5

TV Series

Wayne

2004

1 episode

 

Xavier Pritchett in Little Bill (1999)

Little Bill

6.3

TV Series

Captain Brainstorm (voice)

2003

1 episode

 

Chris Rock in Head of State (2003)

Head of State

5.5

Mr. Hawkins

2003

 

Pictured - (top/back) Josh Randall, JanaMarie Hupp; (bottom, clockwise from center top) Tom Cavanagh, Michael Ian Black, Rachel Cronin, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Justin Long, Lesley Boone, Julie Bowen.

Ed

7.6

TV Series

Mr. Martin

Hospital Doctor

2000–2002

2 episodes

 

Vanessa Williams, Rockmond Dunbar, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Boris Kodjoe, Aaron Meeks, Nicole Ari Parker, and Malinda Williams in Soul Food (2000)

Soul Food

7.6

TV Series

Cassius Whitney

2000

1 episode

 

Michael Beach, Eddie Cibrian, Kim Raver, Jason Wiles, Coby Bell, Amy Carlson, Molly Price, Anthony Ruivivar, and Skipp Sudduth in Third Watch (1999)

Third Watch

8.0

TV Series

Byron Felder

2000

1 episode

 

Noah Fleiss and Callie Thorne in Double Parked (2000)

Double Parked

6.3

Officer McBride

2000

 

Promo Poster

Mickey Blue Eyes

5.9

Reporter

1999

 

Louis Gossett Jr., Lynn Whitfield, Andre Braugher, and Robert Townsend in Love Songs (1999)

Love Songs

6.4

TV Movie

Crumley

1999

 

Bleach

6.9

Short

Jack

1998

 

Godzilla (1998)

Godzilla

5.4

New York Cop

1998

 

Daylight (1996)

Daylight

5.9

Reporter

1996

 

Bill Cosby in Cosby (1996)

Cosby

6.2

TV Series

Leon

1996

1 episode

 

Robert John Burke in Thinner (1996)

Thinner

5.8

Detective Deevers

1996

 

Ving Rhames, Eriq La Salle, and Vondie Curtis-Hall in Drop Squad (1994)

Drop Squad

4.9

Counterman

1994

 

Malik Yoba in New York Undercover (1994)

New York Undercover

7.9

TV Series

Reverend Braxton

1994

1 episode

 

Noël (1992)

Noël

6.9

TV Movie

(voice)

1992

 

Heaven Is a Playground (1991)

Heaven Is a Playground

5.9

Otis Winston

1991

 

Harrison Ford and Greta Scacchi in Presumed Innocent (1990)

Presumed Innocent

6.9

Arresting Detective Jim

1990

 

The Kill Reflex (1989)

The Kill Reflex

4.1

Officer Tom

1989

 

Monsters (1988)

Monsters

7.3

TV Series

Dad

1988

1 episode

 

Holly Hunter, William Hurt, and Albert Brooks in Broadcast News (1987)

Broadcast News

7.3

George Weln

1987

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.1

TV Series

Mr. Davis

1987

1 episode

 

The Core of the Apple

TV Series

Taxi Driver

1986

3 episodes

 

The Day the Women Got Even (1980)

The Day the Women Got Even

5.5

TV Movie

Cop in Limousine

1980

 

3-2-1 Contact (1980)

3-2-1 Contact

8.2

TV Series

Security Guard

1980

2 episodes

 

Watch Your Mouth

8.6

TV Series

Paul

1978

2 episodes

 

Producer

Keepers of the Flame

executive producer

CompletedShort

 

Costume Department

Keepers of the Flame

wardrobe

CompletedShort