The black actor who starred in the iconic role of a gay armed robber from Baltimore, Omar Little, was found dead in his New York apartment.
American actor Michael K Williams, one of the most memorable television stars in recent years for his role in the crime drama The Wire, has been found dead in a New York apartment, according to city police. New York.
The news of the death of the 54-year-old caused a outpouring of mourning among fans and former teammates when the news broke on Monday afternoon. Williams won widespread praise as Omar Little, a gay armed thief from Baltimore, in The Wire and also appeared in dramas and films such as Boardwalk Empire, 12 Years a Slave and Lovecraft Country.
He received multiple Emmy nominations, the best television awards in the United States.
The actor’s representative said it was “with deep sorrow that the family announced the transfer of Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams.”
The New York police department told the AFP news agency that Williams had been found dead in an apartment in Brooklyn on Monday.
The Wire became one of the most popular television programs and ran for five seasons from 2002 to 2008.
Williams was also known for her role as Albert “Chalky” White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.
She was nominated for an Emmy for her turn in Lovecraft Country and for her work playing the husband of blues singer Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.
He was also nominated for The Night Of and When You See US in 2016, about a group of young black people mistakenly accused of rape in Central Park in the 1980s.
“While the world is aware of his immense talent as an artist, we knew Michael as a dear friend who was loved by all who had the privilege of working with him,” HBO said in a statement.
No official cause of death was reported, but several U.S. media quoted law enforcement sources as saying they suspected a possible drug overdose.
Horrible, sad and amazing to think that we have lost the fantastic talent of Michael K. Williams at the age of 54.
– Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 6, 2021
Williams had spoken openly about his past struggles with addiction and had told the American media that he had spent much of his income from The Wire on narcotics.
The news of his death caused pain among fans, many of whom considered him one of the most talented actors of his generation.
The best-selling horror writer, Stephen King, tweeted, “Horrible, sad and unbelievable to think we’ve lost the fantastic talent of Michael K. Williams at the age of 54.”
His first big break on screen came when rapper Tupac Shakur was filming a movie in New York and turned Williams into his little brother after seeing a photo of him Polaroid.
He was later chosen as a drug dealer in Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead, before securing the role that would make his career in The Wire.