Michael K. Williams in “The Wire” © HBO
Those: The Hollywood Reporter
Michael Kenneth Williams, the portrayal of the homosexual and a strict moral code following criminal Omar Little in the legendary HBO series “The Wire” Made television history, was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment on Monday. He was only 54 years old. The cause of death is still unknown.
The horny actor was born in the same New York neighborhood on November 22, 1966. He celebrated his first successes as a street dancer and showed his skills in the appearances of stars like George Michael and Madonna. Acting was his dream from an early age. Of all things, Williams owed his first major film role to a large facial scar that he suffered from a bar fight on his 25th birthday. In Bullet – an eye for an eye (OT: Bullet) he played the brother of Tupac Shakur’s character. Tupac was impressed by his scar and stood up for Williams’ cast in de Rolle.
Gangster and drug dealer roles defined the early years of his career. Between 1997 and 2009, Williams played five characters who moved on “Law & Order” and their spin-off “Special Victims Unit”. After guest roles at “Boston Legal”, “Alias - The Agent” and “Die Sopranos” Williams landed the role of his life as he in David Simon’s series milestone “The Wire” was occupied. His character Omar Little went against every norm. He was a gangster who only robbed other gangsters and drug dealers. He never swore, was sensitive, and loved men. Barack Obama designated “The Wire” one as his favorite series and Omar Little as his favorite character. Williams himself openly admitted that for a long time he was seen in public not as himself, but as Omar.
Not long after the end of “The Wire” Another big series role was already waiting for Williams. He was featured as Albert “Chalky” White in Martin Scorsese’s historic gangster series “Boardwalk Empire” cast and impersonated the role from 2010 to 2014. As Leonard, he was in all three seasons of “Hap and Leonard” and also appeared on HBO’s miniseries “The Night Of” on. Both for her and for the TV movie Bessie and the Netflix-Miniseries “When They See Us” Williams received Emmy nominations. Williams also completed his final series role on HBO as the father of the main character in “Lovecraft Country“.
Williams has also been seen very often in the cinema in recent years. He appeared – mostly in supporting roles – in strips like The Purge: Anarchy, Assassin’s Creed, RoboCop and Motherless Brooklyn on. Williams is also almost part of the Star-Wars-Universe when he played the role of gang boss Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story was occupied. After the film’s abrupt change of direction, which led to massive re-shoots, Williams was unable to return due to scheduling issues and was replaced by Paul Bettany.
Throughout his life, Williams struggled with drug addiction time and again. He openly admitted in interviews while filming “The Wire” and “The Night Of” Having used cocaine regularly. It is unclear whether the substance abuse was related to his death.
–
