“The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams died at 54 – The HuffPost

via Associated Press

DEATH – Michael K. Williams, known to fans of TV series for the touching role of Omar Little in the HBO series The Wire (renamed Bugged, in France) is deceased, his agent confirmed to Hollywood Reporter this Monday, September 6.

“It is with deep sadness that his family of Michael Kenneth Williams (…) announces his death. She asks for the respect of her private life while she mourns this insurmountable loss ”, writes the one who represented him, Marianna Shafran.

New York police, who found his body unconscious in his Brooklyn apartment, said they were investigating a possible overdose. The actor, who had fallen into cocaine and marijuana during the filming of his first televised success, had explained in the early 2010s that he got out of his addiction problems thanks to meditation and religion.

Nominated for the 2021 Emmys

The artist had most recently appeared on HBO still in the supernatural series Lovecraft Country. A role that earned him a nomination for the 2021 Emmys, which will take place on September 19, in the category “best supporting role in a drama series”. Williams was particularly loyal to the famous American cable channel and had also played the role of Chalky White in Boardwalk Empire.

But it is his performance in the five seasons of The Wire who revealed it to the general public, his game had made him one of the stars of the series based in Baltimore.

From 2002 and 2008 he played Omar Little, one of the most feared criminals in the city shown in all its aspects – social, political, police … – inglorious. With his own moral code and principles, this lonely gay criminal quickly became one of the favorite characters. (video below) of this fiction often considered one of the best on the small screen.

The actor was also noticed in the mini-series The Night Of and When They See Us both of which earned him Emmy nominations in 2017 and 2019.

On social networks, a shower of tributes from fans and colleagues – like Aisha Tyler (Archer”, CSI, Friends…) – greeted a talented, generous and devoted man.

Michael K Williams was a beautiful, passionate, expansive soul. I felt so lucky to have known him, and we were all so fortunate to have enjoyed his incredible talent. He burned so very bright.

Rest in power, MKW.

You will forever be The King. pic.twitter.com/LuFY0tG9NA

– Aisha Tyler (@aishatyler) September 6, 2021

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