NEW YORK– Actor Michael K. Williams, who in portraying drug dealer thief Omar Little in “The Wire” created one of the most popular television characters in recent decades, has died. He was 54 years old.
Williams was found dead Monday afternoon at his Brooklyn penthouse, New York City police said. His death was being investigated as a possible overdose, authorities added.
Little, a thief based on real Baltimore criminals, was probably the most beloved character among devoted fans of “The Wire,” the HBO series that aired from 2002 to 2008 and is often seen constantly streaming.
Williams, originally from Brooklyn, has also been a character actor with characters in series and movies for more than two decades including roles in the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” and “Lovecraft Country,” as well as in movies. “12 Years a Slave” and “Assassin’s Creed.”
Like Little, he was a criminal with a strict moral code and a reputation for brutality that was not always real. With a cigarette in his mouth he used to announce his arrival by whistling “The Farmer in the Dell.”
And he had many of the memorable dialogues in the series including “a man must have a code” and “all in the game, all in the game.”
The character was also innovative as an openly gay man sexuality was not the focus of his story.
Williams starred in the five seasons of “The Wire” from 2002 to 2008, and his character became more important with each season.