Michael K. Williams Biography – Michael K. Williams Wiki
Michael K. Williams was an American actor. He is best known for his role as Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire and as Albert “Chalky” White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. He was also acclaimed for his role as Jack Gee, husband of Bessie Smith, in the HBO telefilm biopic Bessie. He acted in supporting roles in a number of films and television series, including The Road, Inherent Vice, The Night Of, Gone Baby Gone, 12 Years a Slave, When We Rise, When They See Us, and Hap and Leonard.
For his role as Omar Little, Williams was nominated in 2009 for an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.” In 2012 Boardwalk Empire won a Screen Actors Guild Award for” Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.” Williams received three Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nominations for his roles in Bessie (2015), The Night Of (2016) and When They See Us (2019). He is currently a 2021 Emmy Award nominee as best supporting actor for “Lovecraft Country”.
Williams made his feature film debut in the urban drama Bullet, after being discovered by the late Tupac Shakur. He also appeared in Bringing Out the Dead, which was directed by Martin Scorsese. His other film work includes roles in The Road, Gone Baby Gone, Life During Wartime, I Think I Love My Wife, and Wonderful World.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Williams began his career as a performer by dancing professionally at age 22. After numerous appearances in music videos and as a background dancer on concert tours for Madonna and George Michael, Williams decided to seriously pursue acting. He participated in several productions of the La MaMA Experimental Theatre, the prestigious National Black Theatre Company and the Theater for a New Generation directed by Mel Williams.
He established Making Kids Win, a charitable organization whose primary objective is to build community centers in urban neighborhoods that are in need of safe spaces for children to learn and play. He was also the co-founder and an advocate of “We Build the Block.”
Michael K. Williams Age
The youngest of 10 children, Michael Kenneth Williams was born on November 22, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York City. He died on September 6, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York City. He was 54.
Michael K. Williams Wife
Was Michael K. Williams married? It is unclear. He formerly dated actress Tasha Smith.
Michael K. Williams Children
Michael K. Williams had three children Elijah Williams, Karim Williams, and Chanel Williams, according to his IMDB profile. He made reference to his kids in an interview with Time, saying “the reckless behavior had to stop–for my kids, for my family.”
Michael K. Williams Son
Michael K. Williams had a son, Elijah Williams. On January 17, 2021, Williams posted a picture with his arms around his son on Instagram, writing in the caption: “I [heart] U Son.” The son is an artist and illustrator, according to his Instagram.
Michael K. Williams Girlfriend
Actors Tasha Smith and Michael K. Williams dated. In May 2019, the “Why Did I Get Married” star revealed that she is in a romantic relationship with “The Wire” actor as she made their relationship Instagram official. Tasha shared a photo of them snuggling up to each other while calling her boyfriend “the love of my life.” She wrote: “Nothing makes me happier!!!!! The love Of my life @bkbmg. This man gives me goose bumps!!!!!”
Michael K. Williams Family
Michael K. Williams was the son of a Bahamian mother from Nassau and Booker T. Williams, an American, from Greeleyville, South Carolina, where his African-American family has deep roots. He was the youngest of 10 children. Williams is survived by his son Elijah Williams.
Michael K. Williams Death
“The Wire’’ actor Michael K. Williams was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse on Monday, September 6, 2021. The actor was discovered unconscious in the dining room of his luxury Williamsburg pad with what appeared to be heroin on the kitchen table, sources told New York Post.
His nephew found him around 2 p.m., and he was officially pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m. It appeared Williams had fatally OD’d, source said. Drug paraphernalia was found at the scene, authorities say.
“No foul play indicated,” a police source said. “No forced entry, the apartment was in order.”
“It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams,” his publicist said. “They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss.”
HBO released the following statement: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Michael Kenneth Williams, a member of the HBO family for more than 20 years. 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.”
Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. tweeted: “Shocked and saddened by the death of Michael K Williams. One of the nicest brothers on the planet with the biggest heart. An amazing actor and soul. May you RIP. God bless.”
Michael K. Williams Cause of Death
The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the official cause of death of Michael K. Williams. However, he died of a suspected drug overdose, according to police sources.
Michael K. Williams Drugs
Michael K. Williams had been open about his personal struggles with drugs through the years, including during the filming of “The Wire,” saying that getting so into the role of Little, who robs drug dealers, affected him in real life. The Flatbush native told NPR in 2016 that he once stumbled into a church in New Jersey desperately seeking help for his addiction.
“When I came through those doors, I was broken. … This was, I would say, around the … third season of ‘The Wire,’” Williams said. “I was on drugs. … I was in jeopardy of destroying everything I had worked so hard for, and I came in those doors, and I met a man who had never even heard of ‘The Wire,’ much less watched it,” he said, referring to the pastor.
“I wrote my full name down — Michael Kenneth Williams — and in the office, [the pastor] turns around, and he says, ‘So what do you want to be called, man?’ I said, ‘Well, you know, my name is Michael, but I could do Mike.’ He says, ‘Why does everybody say, ‘Omar, Omar’s in trouble?’ ” And I was like, ‘Oh, this dude is clueless [about the show],’ ” Williams said.
Michael K. Williams Gay
Was Michael K. Williams gay? In HBO’s hit crime drama The Wire, actor Michael K. Williams played Omar Little, a gay man who doesn’t like fancy clothes or fancy cars, doesn’t do drugs, doesn’t even curse and robs the most gangster drug dealers in the community.
As a boy, Williams was sexually molested and the experience left him withdrawn and confused about his own sexuality. He never spoke of the abuse back then, but his peers seized on his vulnerability and tormented him relentlessly. Alienated from his family and friends in Vanderveer, he found a sense of belonging at the gay bars of downtown Manhattan in the 1980s and ’90s. Though he did not identify as gay, Michael K. Williams relished the sheer liberty of carousing around a space unencumbered. Many weekends, he would dance until the early morning at clubs like the Roxy, Sound Factory and Palladium.
Michael K. Williams Gay Scene
During the filming of a scene in the first season involving Omar and his boyfriend, Brandon, Michael K. Williams improvised a kiss that had not been in the script.
Michael K. Williams Scar Story
One night at a bar in Queens, on the eve of his 25th birthday, he stepped outside to find a group of men jumping his friend. When he tried to intervene, one of the muggers pulled out a razor blade and sliced him across his face and neck. One gash went straight through his jugular. The next day, his mother took out a second insurance policy on his life.
“She told me I’d never live to 30,” Mr. Williams recalled, “and I believed her.” But the attack that almost killed him left an indelible mark that also revived his life: a scar trailing diagonally down his face, from the top of his forehead to the middle of his right cheek. It was impossible to ignore. And it radically transformed his image.
Michael K. Williams Net Worth
Michael K. Williams’ net worth is estimated to be $5 million.
Michael K. Williams Height
Michael K. Williams was 5′ 10″ (1.78 m) tall.
Michael K. Williams Instagram
Michael K. Williams’ Instagram handle is @bkbmg.