RIP Michael K. Williams

 Michael K. Williams, Actor Who Starred As Omar In ‘The Wire, Dies At 54

 

NEWSONE

By Bruce C. T. Wright

9/6/2021

 

Michael K. Williams, the veteran actor who rose to fame playing the role of Omar Little, a hitman for hire in the award-winning drama, “The Wire,” has reportedly died at the age of 54.

Williams was found dead in his New York City apartment on Monday afternoon, the New York Post reported.

There were no immediate reports of what may have caused Williams to die.

He was reportedly found by his nephew in his Brooklyn apartment.

Aside from achieving widespread success from “The Wire,” Williams — a Brooklyn native — also starred in numerous movies as well as other cable TV dramas, such as “Boardwalk Empire” in which he portrayed gangster Chalky White on HBO. Williams also received critical acclaim for his role in HBO’s recent sci-fi series, “Lovecraft County.”

According to his IMDB page, Williams was nominated for multiple Emmy Awards and “Boardwalk Empire” won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Many of Williams’ roles focused on the Black experience, for better and, as evidenced by his infamous Omar Little character on “The Wire,” for worse.

That may or may have not been by design for Williams, who notably away from the bright lights participated in a docuseries for Vice that brought attention to the juvenile justice system in America.

 

WILLIAMS, Michael K. (Michael Kenneth Williams)

Born: 11/22/1966, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 9/6/2021, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

 

Michael K. Williams’ westerns – actor;

They Die by Dawns – 2013 (Nat Love)

Surrounded – 2021