Five time emmy award nominee Michael K. Williams was found dead on Monday. Laying on his couch, he was unconscious with drug paraphanelia on a table nearby. Most know him as “Omar’ from The Wire, an HBO series based in the slums of Baltimore. He played a big time homosexual drug dealer.
A New York police spokesperson confirmed his death after responding to his family’s worrisome call since they found it strange to not have heard from him a couple days prior. The officers arrived to his apartment at 2 p.m. on Monday.
“It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actorMichael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss” a representative for William’s family said.
Initially Williams was a dancer in the early part of his career; starting at the age of 22 appearing in more than 50 music videos, according to TV Guide.
More recently he was nominated for “Lovecraft Country”. Michael was a regular on many acclaimed HBO series including “Boardwalk Empire”, and “The Night Of”.
Ironically, he would get his start in acting after getting his trademark scar on his face. Michael K. Williams got his first gig with 2Pac. Pac felt that Williams had a thug look to him. It was due to the long scar on his face which he earned from being in a bar one night and getting attacked. His attacker left him for dead and he is grateful for the blessing that night that his life was saved.
This is utterly devastating. Sweet Michael. You were one of the greatest actors ever. Rest In Peace. 'The Wire' actor Michael K. Williams found dead in NYC apartment https://t.co/zTBtSvyveH via @nypmetro
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) September 6, 2021
How He Earned His Facial Stripe
While celebrating his 25th birthday one night, he told National Public Radio, that when he stepped outside of the bar for some fresh air, during a “popping party”. He said,
I saw that two of my other friends were being surrounded by some dudes who I didn’t know. And it looked like they were about to get jumped,” he recalled during the 2014 interview.
“And I said, ‘Yo, I’m ready to leave. Let’s go back. I’m going to go back home now.’”
But Williams said that “this one dude kept pacing behind me.”
“He kept like, you know, like sucking his teeth, and I’m looking — I’m like, ‘Yo — so what’s up dude? Yo bro, what’s your problem?’” he said.
“And the dude wiped his hand across his mouth and just — what I thought appeared to be — smacked me, but what he did was he spit a razor.”
Willams added, “He was positioning the razor in his mouth to get between his middle finger and his ring finger, and then he just went — swiped me down my face, and this cut my face.”
“It was actually the first hit of the fight. So we managed to escape with our lives, barely, that night,” he said.
A lot of people knew him as Omar, I knew him as Chalky. I’m sure his family knew his as Michael. Thanks for all you gave to encourage, enlighten and entertain people you didn’t even know. Praying for your people. 🕊 pic.twitter.com/mDmXPM5lPR
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) September 6, 2021