WhileLostmay center around the main character passengers of Oceanic Flight 815, the J.J. Abrams show featured many memorable guest stars, including the late, great Lane Reddick. The series ran for six seasons, from 2004-2010, and became an absolute water cooler show for North American audiences. Fewer shows had more fan theories thanLost, as viewers loved to debate the meaning ofsupernatural phenomena like the Smoke Monsterand “The Others”.
One of themost popularLostfan theoriesis that Oceanic Flight 818’s survivors are actually dead, and that the island is their purgatory. This theory is supported by the large amount of biblical references in the series, both overt and implied. For example, the beloved character John Locke is seen as a representation of Jesus Christ.Lostnetwork ABC leaned into this in a particularly memorable piece of promotional art that depicted the show’s cast posed likeThe Last Supperpainting, with Locke in the Jesus position. Further connecting toLost’s biblical themes is Lance Reddick’s character.
Lance Reddick Played Matthew Abaddon On Lost
Abaddon Is Introduced In Season 4 & Has Ties To Charles Widmore
Lance Reddick first appears inLostseason 4, episode 1, “The Beginning of the End.” He introduces himself as Matthew Abaddon, a lawyer for Oceanic Airlines, to Hurley at the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute. In reality,Abaddon is an agent for Charles Widmore. Abaddon initiates some of the series’ most important events, including gathering together the science team, and assisting Locke in finding the other survivors of Flight 815. Abaddon meets his end in season 5, episode 7, “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”, when he is shot and killed by Benjamin Linus.
“The Beginning of the End”
Season 5, Episode 7
“The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”
Abaddon’s appearances throughout episodes ofLostare filled with mystery. The character’s backstory is kept purposely vague, and viewers are left wondering whether he is a force for good or ill. Of course in trueLostfashion, Abaddon is killed off just before things start to become a little clearer. Reddick plays up the enigma of Abaddon expertly as an ominous yet auspicious guide. Maybe it’s his soothing voice or his confident demeanor, but Reddick clearly possesses an understanding of how to depict such a cryptic character.
Matthew Abaddon’s Biblical Name Explained
His Name Means “God’s Gift Of Destruction”
Like so many themes inLost,Matthew Abaddon is more than just a mysterious figure, but a symbol. For those well-versed in theology, the name Abaddon is a dead giveaway.In the Bible, Abaddon is an angel from the Book of Revelation who opens the way to the Abyss. The Abyss is a prison for demonic angels who must reside in the bottomless pit until Judgement Day (viaRevelation Study Guide). Abaddon means “destruction,” and according to the Bible, he leads a swarm of locusts, which he will unleash on the wicked at the End of Days.
The meaning of Matthew in Hebrew is “God’s gift,” which is a curious juxtaposition of the character’s surname. Put them together and the name essentially means “God’s gift of destruction.” From whatLosthas established with its biblical symbolism,Abaddon seems to represent a guardian angel who is meant to fulfill the island’s purpose. Abaddon’s job is to lead the right people to the island, or into the Abyss. It isn’t necessarily the same kind of Abyss that the Bible describes, but it’s pretty darn close.
Other Great Lance Reddick Performances
Reddick Is Best Remembered For His Roles In The Wire & The John Wick Franchise
Lance Reddick played a wide variety of badass rolesthroughout his career. His first big break was in the acclaimed crime dramaThe Wire,where Reddick played Cedric Daniels, a detective who got his start in the narcotics division and later became a criminal defense lawyer. Reddick also had a major role on the sci-fi seriesFringeas Special Agent Phillip Broyles, and he played Zeus, the king of the gods, in an episode of Disney Plus’sPercy Jackson and the Olympians.As for movies, Reddick is best remembered as Charon, the hotel manager in theJohn Wickfranchise.
John Wick Full Timeline Explained: When Each Movie & Spinoff Takes Place
The John Wick films and spinoffs have been released over a span of ten years. The In-universe storyline has a surprisingly shorter timeline.
Reddick also lent his voice talents to several animated projects and video games over the years. He voiced Commander Zavala in theDestinygames and Sylens inHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West.Some of his notable animated TV show voiceover credits includeThe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Beware Batman, Rick and Morty, Duck Tales,andCastlevania.One ofReddick’s final roles before his death in 2023was as the voice of the evil red dragon Thordak inThe Legend of Vox Machina.The season 4 episode “A Deadly Bargain” was dedicated to theLostactor.
Lost
Cast
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
