Robert F. Chew dead of heart failure

The man who played Proposition Joe on HBO’s “The Wire” has died.

Robert F. Chew died in his sleep of apparent heart failure at 52 in his Baltimore home.

He played Joseph Stewart in all five seasons of David Simon’s drama “The Wire.” Prop Joe was based in part on a real- life Baltimore drug kingpin. His catchphrase was “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

"I didn't want to believe this #RIP Robert F Chew, Prop Joe will always be remembered Robert Chew will always be loved and missed!" costar Jamie Hector tweeted. Hector played Marlo Stanfield on the show.

“R.I.P. to the talented Mr. Robert Chew,” Michael Kenneth Williams, a former co- star, tweeted.

Chew first appeared in an arc on “Homicide: Life on the Street.” Simon produced that one, and then brought Chew on to his HBO miniseries “The Corner.” He also appeared in 2004 HBO movie “Something the Lord Made.” He also has a role in upcoming Mary- Louise Parker and James Woods film “Jamesy Boy.”

Chew sang in the Morgan State University choir, and taught acting at Baltimore’s Arena Players. He helped 22 students there get roles on “The Wire.”

Funeral service will be held this Thursday in Baltimore.