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Black actor who played the iconic role of gay Baltimore armed robber, Omar Little, has been found dead in his New York apartment.
American actor Michael K Williams, one of the most memorable television stars of recent years for his role in crime drama The Wire, has been found dead in a New York apartment, according to New York City police.
News of the 54-year-old’s death sparked a wave of grief among fans and former colleagues when the news broke on Monday afternoon. Williams was acclaimed as Omar Little, a gay armed robber from Baltimore, in The Wire and has also appeared in dramas and films including Boardwalk Empire, 12 Years a Slave and Lovecraft Country.
It has received several Emmy nominations, the top television awards in the United States.
The actor’s rep said it was “with deep sadness that the family announce the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams.”
The New York Police Department told the AFP news agency that Williams was found dead in a Brooklyn apartment on Monday.
The Wire went on to become one of the most popular shows on television and ran for five seasons from 2002 to 2008.
Williams was also well known for the role of Albert “Chalky” White on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire series.
He was nominated for an Emmy for his turn in Lovecraft Country as well as for his work as the husband of blues singer Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.
He was also nominated for The Night Of in 2016 and When They See US in 2019, about a group of young black men wrongly accused of rape in Central Park in the 1980s.
“As the world realizes his immense artistic talents, 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 has been given, but several US media have cited law enforcement sources as suspecting a possible drug overdose.
Horrible, sad and unbelievable to think that we lost the fantastically talented Michael K. Williams at the age of 54.
– Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 6, 2021
Williams had spoken openly about his past struggles with drug addiction and told US media that he spent a large chunk of his earnings from The Wire on narcotics.
The news of his death sparked grief among fans, many of whom considered him to be one of the most talented actors of his generation.
Best-selling horror writer Stephen King tweeted: “Horrible, sad and unbelievable to think we lost the fantastic Michael K. Williams at the age of 54.”
His first big screen break came when rapper Tupac Shakur was shooting a movie in New York City and chose Williams as his little brother after seeing a Polaroid photo of him.
He was then cast as a drug dealer in Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead, before landing the role that would make his career in The Wire.
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