Michael K. Williams, who is best known for his star turning role on the gritty HBO series “The Wire” as well as his recent appearance in “Lovecraft Country” has died at the age of 54….
Actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his iconic role in the HBO series “The Wire” as well as recently appearing in the series “Lovecraft Country,” has died at the age of 54.
According to the NY Post, Williams was found unresponsive in his Brooklyn apartment on Monday afternoon and pronounced dead on the scene by law enforcement officials.
“It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss,” his long-time rep Marianna Shafran said in a statement issued on Monday.
Born and raised in New York, Williams started out as a dancer in the early 90s as well as doing some modeling but it was actually a scar on his face that he received from a razor blade during a bar fight that got him attention with casting directors for music videos.
Eventually, Williams started getting small roles on television including a memorable guest appearance on “The Sopranos” during the season 3 finale but his big break came in 2002 when he landed a leading role on the series “The Wire” where he played drug deal Omar Little.
Williams received critical acclaim for his role as Omar Little where he appeared in “The Wire” for 51 total episodes.
Eventually after that show ended, Williams became a regular on the series “Boardwalk Empire” where he played Chalky White, a Black entrepreneur who gets mixed up with the mob and the criminals running Atlantic City during the prohibition era.
More recently, Williams appeared in the HBO series “Lovecraft Country” where he played Montrose Freeman opposite Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett. He is currently nominated for the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for that role.
Williams also made numerous appearances across film as well including past roles in movies such as “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Road.”
