Michael K. Williams, ‘The Wire’ Actor, Dies at 54
He 'Lovecraft Country' star and Emmy nominee died Monday, his reps told The Hollywood Reporter.
He was not on the list.
Michael K. Williams, best known for his role as Baltimore stick-up man Omar Little on HBO’s The Wire, has died, his rep told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 54.
“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 longtime rep, Marianna Shafran of Shafran PR, said.
Williams was found in his Brooklyn home on Monday afternoon, a New York Police Department rep told THR. No cause of death was immediately available.
More recently, Williams portrayed Montrose Freeman on HBO’s Lovecraft Country, for which he received a 2021 Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, and When They See Us‘ Bobby McCray, the father of Antron McCray, who convinced his son to sign a false confession.
The frequent HBO star also played racketeer Chalky White on Boardwalk Empire.
“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Michael Kenneth Williams, a member of the HBO family for more than 20 years,” a statement from the network said. “While the world is aware of his immense talents as an artist, we knew Michael as a dear friend who was beloved by all who had the privilege to work with him. We send our deepest condolences to his family for this immeasurable loss.”
Michael Kenneth Williams was born in Brooklyn on Nov. 22, 1966. His mother was from the Bahamas and his father, Booker, was from South Carolina. He was raised in the Vanderveer housing projects in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in the borough.”
Growing up, I got picked on a lot,” he told Time magazine in 2017. “I was the corny one. I was not popular with the ladies. In a very alpha-male community, being sensitive is not considered a quality.”
He excelled in street dancing and worked on tours fronted by the likes of George Michael and Madonna before pursuing acting with the National Black Theatre in New York City, and he made his onscreen debut in Bullet (1996), starring Mickey Rourke and Tupac Shakur.
The rapper had seen a photo of Williams — who had a prominent facial scar from a fight in Queens on his 25th birthday — and helped him get hired to play his brother in the film.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Mugshot Rumor
1996 Bullet High Top
1999 Bringing Out the Dead Drug Dealer
2000 Broke Even Kenny
2004 Doing Hard Time Curtis Craig
2005 Guile Ken Short film
Trapped in the Closet Chapters 1–12 James
The Orphan King N/A
2006 Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club Tone
Bondage Willie
Mercenary for Justice Samuel Kay
2007 5up 2down Terance
Trapped in the Closet Chapters 13–22 James
Trapped in the Closet: The BIG Package James
I Think I Love My Wife Teddy
Gone Baby Gone Devin
2008 The Incredible Hulk Harlem Bystander
KeAnthony: A Hutlaz Story Shawn Short film
Miracle at St. Anna Tucker (Scared Soldier)
2009 Tell-Tale Acherton
Addicts Lil J
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll Sonnyboy
A Day in the Life Killer Mike
Life During Wartime Allen Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast
A Kiss of Chaos Demetrius
You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You Ad
The Road Thief
Wonderful World Ibu
2010 Brooklyn's Finest Red
2011 Bayou Black Willy Jones Short film
2012 LUV Det. Holloway
Crispus Attucks: Today Was a Good Day N/A Short film
W8 (Weight) Derrick Jones Short film
The Wire: The Musical Omar Little Short film
Nobody's Nobody's Emeka Short film
Trapped in the Closet: The Next Installment James
2013 12 Years a Slave Robert Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Snitch Malik
They Die by Dawn Nat Love Short film
The Devil Goes Down The Devil Short film
2014 RoboCop Jack Lewis
The Purge: Anarchy Carmelo Johns
Kill the Messenger Ricky Ross
Inherent Vice Tariq Khalil
The Gambler Neville Baraka Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
2015 Anesthesia Jeffrey
Captive Det. John Chestnut
2016 The Land Pops
Triple 9 Sweet Pea
Ghostbusters Agent Hawkins
When the Bough Breaks Roland
Assassin's Creed Moussa
2018 The Public Jackson
Superfly Scatter
2019 The Red Sea Diving Resort Kabede Bimro
Motherless Brooklyn Trumpet Man
2020 Arkansas Almond
Beastie Boys Story Bob Dylan Cameo
Critical Thinking Mr. Roundtree
2021 Body Brokers Wood
TBA Surrounded TBA Post-production, posthumous release
892 TBA Post-production, posthumous release
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Law & Order Delmore Walton Episode: "Shadow"
2001 Law & Order Marcus Cole Episode: "A Losing Season"
Deadline Darin Episode: "The Undesirables"
The Sopranos Ray Ray Episode: "Army of One"
2002–08 The Wire Omar Little 41 episodes
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
2002 Third Watch Cop #1 Episode: "Superheroes Part 2"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Double-D Gamble Episode: "Escape"
2005 Alias Roberts 3 episodes
Boston Legal Randall Kirk Episode: "Gone"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Ronnie Episode: "Hollywood Brass"
Lackawanna Blues Jimmy Television movie
2006–07 Six Degrees Michael 3 episodes
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Victor Bodine Episode: "Underbelly"
2007 The Kill Point Quincy 8 episodes
2008 Human Giant Chris Barksdale Episode: "Respect. Honor. Discipline."
CSI: NY Reggie Dunham Episode: "The Box"
2009 Law & Order Charles Cole Episode: "Great Satan"
The Philanthropist Dax Vahagn 8 episodes
2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Laurent Episode: "World's End"
2010–14 Boardwalk Empire Chalky White 35 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Clarence Warrenton Episode: "Legacy/Drag City"
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Unnamed citizen Voice
Episode: "Allen Part Two"
The Cookout 2 Cable Guy Mike Television movie
2011–12 Community Dr. Marshall Kane 3 episodes
2013 Walk This Way Rev. Daniels 7 episodes
High School USA! Lucius Voice
Episode: "Adderall"
2014 Lucas Bros. Moving Co. Satan / Nigerian Dude Voice
Episode: "A/C Tundra"
2015 Bessie Jack Gee Television movie
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
The Spoils Before Dying Rock Banyon 6 episodes
2016–18 Hap and Leonard Leonard Pine 18 episodes
2016 The Night Of Freddy Knight 6 episodes
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Black Market with Michael K. Williams Himself 8 episodes
2017 When We Rise Ken Jones 7 episodes
2017–21 F Is for Family Smokey Greenwood Voice
11 episodes
2018 The Guest Book Gabe Episode: "Someplace Other Than Here"
Vice Himself Episode: "Raised in the System"
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special
2019 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Richard Sackler Episode: "Opioids II"
When They See Us Bobby McCray 3 episodes
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
2020 Lovecraft Country Montrose Freeman 9 episodes
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Hollywood Critics Association TV Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama
Pending—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Horror Series
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Battlefield 4 Sgt. Kimble "Irish" Graves Voice and motion capture
2020 NBA 2K21 Archie Baldwin
2021 Battlefield 2042 Cpt. Kimble "Irish" Graves Posthumous; Voice and motion capture
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