Michael K. Williams: Difference between revisions

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Line 32: Williams worked for [[Pfizer]] pharmaceuticals as a [[Temporary work\|temp]].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/08/28/755021596/no-longer-omar-actor-michael-k-williams-on-lucky-breaks-and-letting-go\|title=No Longer Omar: Actor Michael K. Williams On Lucky Breaks And Letting Go\|last1=Gross\|first1=Terry\|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]\|quote=Yeah, so I went and got a job at Pfizer pharmaceuticals. Like, I was a temp job, and I worked there for a year.\|date=August 28, 2019\|access-date=August 14, 2021\|archive-date=August 15, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815022634/https://www.npr.org/2019/08/28/755021596/no-longer-omar-actor-michael-k-williams-on-lucky-breaks-and-letting-go\|url-status=live}}</ref> However, inspired by ''[[Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814]]'', he left school and quit his job, against the wishes of his family, to pursue a career as a dancer. During a year in which he was intermittently homeless, Williams visited record labels and dance studios looking for work. He got a job as a background dancer with singer [[Kym Sims]], which led to more work appearing as a dancer in music videos and on tours with artists such as [[George Michael]] and [[Madonna (entertainer)\|Madonna]], as well as some modeling work. He also choreographed [[Crystal Waters]]' 1994 single "[[100% Pure Love]]".<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18299087\|title=Michael K. Williams: He's Only Playing Tough\|work=NPR.org\|access-date=September 13, 2018\|quote=Williams began to work (in these videos) with some of the biggest names in the business such as Madonna and Crystal Waters\|archive-date=June 18, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203202/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18299087\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WBEZ">{{cite news \|title=Wikipedia Files: Michael K. Williams (Omar from 'The Wire') \|first1=Justin \|last1=Kaufmann \|url=http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/2011-09-23/wikipedia-files-michael-k-williams-omar-wire-92391 \|newspaper=[[WBEZ]] \|date=September 23, 2011 \|access-date=September 23, 2011 \|archive-date=December 25, 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225073437/http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/2011-09-23/wikipedia-files-michael-k-williams-omar-wire-92391 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> Williams had a ~~large~~prominent ~~facial~~vertically ~~scar~~spanning heforehead scar ~~received~~inflicted in a bar fight on his 25th birthday, ~~when~~claiming heto ~~was~~be ~~slashed~~caused ~~with~~by a razor blade.<!-- This source does not indicate how Williams received his scar. This anecdote is not cited. --> The scar became his signature feature, and resulted in offers to perform as a thug in music videos<ref name=":0">{{Cite news\|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1942833,00.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128084056/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1942833,00.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=November 28, 2009\|title=Actor Michael Kenneth Williams\|last=Altman\|first=Alex\|date=November 25, 2009\|newspaper=Time\|access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref> and modeling opportunities with noted photographers like [[David LaChapelle]].<ref>{{cite web\|last=Smart\|first=Jack\|date=July 20, 2016\|title=Michael K. Williams Returns to TV\|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/michael-k-williams-returns-tv-6064/\|url-status=live\|access-date=September 6, 2021\|archive-date=September 6, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906204123/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/michael-k-williams-returns-tv-6064/}}</ref> One of his first acting roles was alongside [[Tupac Shakur]] as High Top, the brother and henchman to Shakur's drug kingpin Tank, in the 1996 film ''[[Bullet (1996 film)\|Bullet]]''.<ref name=":1">{{cite web\|title=Michael K. Williams discusses being discovered by Tupac\|url=http://www.page-31.com/article.php?Michael-K-Williams-discusses-being-discovered-by-Tupac/1088\|access-date=March 10, 2016\|website=Page 31\|archive-date=March 7, 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307214831/http://page-31.com/article.php?michael-k-williams-discusses-being-discovered-by-tupac/1088\|url-status=live}}</ref> Shakur reportedly decided on Williams for the role after spotting a Polaroid photograph of him in a production studio.<ref name="NYTimes">{{Cite news \|last1=Jacobs \|first1=Julia \|last2=Correal \|first2=Annie \|last3=Haag \|first3=Matthew \|last4=Egner \|first4=Jeremy \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/06/arts/michael-k-williams-dead.html \|date=September 6, 2021 \|title=Michael K. Williams, Omar From 'The Wire,' Is Dead at 54 \|work=The New York Times \|access-date=September 7, 2021 \|issn=0362-4331 \|archive-date=September 6, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906235436/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/06/arts/michael-k-williams-dead.html \|url-status=live }}</ref> ===2002–2008: Breakthrough with ''The Wire''===