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| image = Omar Michael Williams 2012 Shankbone.JPG
| caption = Williams at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]] in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|9|6|1966|11|22}}
| death_place = Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
| death_cause =
| children = 3<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-michael-williams-funeral-20210914-c2nhuubkvzgjxbkf2av2m2tlrm-story.html|title=Michael K. Williams, 'The Wire' actor, will have private funeral services in Harrisburg, where he often visited his mother|last=Stalnecker|first=Ashley|work=[[The Morning Call]]|date=September 14, 2021|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118214824/https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-michael-williams-funeral-20210914-c2nhuubkvzgjxbkf2av2m2tlrm-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| occupation = Actor
| years_active =
| website = {{URL|michaelkennethwilliams.com}}
}}
'''Michael Kenneth Williams''' (
Born in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], to an [[African-American]] father from [[South Carolina]] and a [[Bahamians|Bahamian]] mother, Williams enrolled at the [[National Black Theatre|National Black Theater]]. He left school early to pursue a career as a dancer, which resulted in his working with [[Kym Sims]], [[George Michael]], and [[Madonna]], and found work choreographing music videos. His distinctive voice, prominent facial scar, and charisma helped him obtain acting work, initially alongside [[Tupac Shakur]] in the 1996 film ''[[Bullet (1996 film)|Bullet]]'' before being cast in ''The Wire'' in 2002.<ref name=":1" /> His performance as Omar was widely acclaimed, leading to praise from President [[Barack Obama]] and an [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2007.<ref name="Hollywood Reporter Image 2007" />
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Williams also played [[List of Boardwalk Empire characters|Albert "Chalky" White]] on the HBO series ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'' from 2010 to 2014. He earned five [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations for his performances in the HBO television [[Biographical film|biopic]] ''[[Bessie (film)|Bessie]]'' (2015), the [[Netflix]] drama series ''[[When They See Us]]'' (2019), and the HBO series ''[[The Night Of]]'' (2016) and ''[[Lovecraft Country (TV series)|Lovecraft Country]]'' (2020). He had a recurring role in the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]'' from 2011 to 2012. He also had supporting roles in a number of films including ''[[Gone Baby Gone]]'' (2007), ''[[The Road (2009 film)|The Road]]'' (2009), ''[[Inherent Vice (film)|Inherent Vice]]'' (2014), and ''[[Motherless Brooklyn (film)|Motherless Brooklyn]]'' (2019), as well as starring roles in ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'' (2013), ''[[Robocop (2014 film)|Robocop]]'' (2014), ''[[The Purge: Anarchy]]'' (2014), ''[[The Gambler (2014 film)|The Gambler]]'' (2014), ''[[Triple 9]]'' (2016), ''[[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|Ghostbusters]]'' (2016), and ''[[Assassin's Creed (film)|Assassin's Creed]]'' (2016).
Williams acknowledged struggles with fame throughout his life, admitting that he had suffered from drug addictions during the height of his success. He continued to live in Brooklyn until his death in 2021 at age 54, after using [[heroin]] laced with a lethal amount of [[fentanyl]]. Four men were charged in the aftermath of his death with various crimes, including manslaughter.<ref>{{Cite web|last=agency|first=Guardian staff and|date=February 2, 2022|title=Michael K Williams: four men charged in overdose death of Wire actor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/02/michael-k-williams-death-men-charged|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203001254/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/02/michael-k-williams-death-men-charged|url-status=live}}</ref>
Williams' portrayal of Omar Little has been called one of the best in the history of television.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Andrews|first=Travis M.|date=September 6, 2021|title=The ballad of Omar Little, Michael K. Williams's enduring role|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/09/06/michael-k-williams-omar-little-the-wire/|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=May 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516081355/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/09/06/michael-k-williams-omar-little-the-wire/|url-status=live}}</ref> With ''The Wire'' and other shows such as ''[[The Sopranos]]'', Williams was credited with being part of the late 1990s and early 2000s artistic force changing American television into an art form.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Emma|title=How The Wire became the greatest TV show ever made|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180412-how-the-wire-became-the-greatest-tv-show-ever-made|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=www.bbc.com|language=en|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430001103/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180412-how-the-wire-became-the-greatest-tv-show-ever-made|url-status=live}}</ref> In the aftermath of his death, he was the subject of tributes and appraisal both in the United States and beyond; the British lecturer and writer [[Kenan Malik]] wrote of his "power and nuance, seldom seen on screen".<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 12, 2021|title=In an age too given to moral certainty, let's remember The Wire's Omar as a study in complexity {{!}} Kenan Malik|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/12/in-a-black-and-white-age-the-wire-omar-little-illuminated-our-knotty-moral-lives|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203033149/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/12/in-a-black-and-white-age-the-wire-omar-little-illuminated-our-knotty-moral-lives|url-status=live}}</ref>
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Williams was originally cast as Dryden Vos, a crime lord, in ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/michael-kenneth-williams-joins-young-han-solo-film|title=Michael Kenneth Williams joins young Han Solo film|publisher=StarWars.com|date=March 6, 2017|access-date=March 6, 2017|archive-date=March 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307203948/http://www.starwars.com/news/michael-kenneth-williams-joins-young-han-solo-film|url-status=live}}</ref> but exited the role after being unable to return for re-shoots due to scheduling conflicts with the film ''[[The Red Sea Diving Resort]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/michael-k-williams-han-solo-movie-roll-cut-reshoots-1202153750/|title=Michael K. Williams' Rome Cut from 'Star Wars' Han Solo Film Amid Reshoots|last=Blyth|first=Antonia|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=August 22, 2017|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822184743/http://deadline.com/2017/08/michael-k-williams-han-solo-movie-roll-cut-reshoots-1202153750/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Paul Bettany]] was cast in his place, with the character being reworked from a motion-capture alien to a human.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/han-solo-paul-bettany-casting/|title=The Han Solo Spin-Off Adds Paul Bettany to Replace Michael K. Williams|last=Hall|first=Jacob|publisher=[[/Film]]|date=September 1, 2017|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414000851/https://www.slashfilm.com/han-solo-paul-bettany-casting/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, he played Montrose Freeman on the HBO series ''[[Lovecraft Country (TV series)|Lovecraft Country]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michael K. Williams Channeled His Own 'Trauma' to Play Montrose in Lovecraft Country: 'It Was Painful' |url=https://people.com/tv/michael-k-williams-channeled-his-own-trauma-to-play-montrose-in-lovecraft-country |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=PEOPLE |date=October 18, 2020 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906221210/https://people.com/tv/michael-k-williams-channeled-his-own-trauma-to-play-montrose-in-lovecraft-country/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Death==
On September 6, 2021, at the age of 54, Williams was found dead by his nephew at his apartment in the [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn|Williamsburg]] neighborhood of Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Abbey |title=Michael K. Williams, 'The Wire' actor, has died at 54 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/michael-k-williams-the-wire-star-dead-at-54-1235009002/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906214332/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/michael-k-williams-the-wire-star-dead-at-54-1235009002/ |url-status=live |archive-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |title=Michael K. Williams, Star Of 'The Wire' And 'Lovecraft Country,' Dies At Age 54 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/michael-k-williams-dead-age-54-the-wire-lovecraft-country-dies-at-age-54-1234827926/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906214413/https://deadline.com/2021/09/michael-k-williams-dead-age-54-the-wire-lovecraft-country-dies-at-age-54-1234827926/ |url-status=live |archive-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Morales |first=Mark |title=Michael K. Williams, 'Wire' actor, found dead |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/06/entertainment/michael-k-williams/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906220314/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/06/entertainment/michael-k-williams/index.html |url-status=live |archive-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes"/> On September 24, the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City ruled it a death by overdose and confirmed that Williams died of a combination of [[cocaine]], [[fentanyl]], [[heroin]], and [[parafluorofentanyl]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moshtaghian |first=Artemis |date=September 24, 2021 |title=Michael K. Williams' cause of death determined by medical examiner |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/24/entertainment/michael-k-williams-cause-of-death/index.html |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317231733/https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/24/entertainment/michael-k-williams-cause-of-death/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/michael-k-williams-cause-of-death-accidental-overdose-1234844098/|title=Michael K. Williams' Died From Accidental Overdose, New York Medical Examiner Says|work=Deadline Hollywood|first1=Rosy|last1=Cordero|first2=Patrick|last2=Hipes|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924194521/https://deadline.com/2021/09/michael-k-williams-cause-of-death-accidental-overdose-1234844098/|url-status=live}}</ref> His private funeral was held at [[St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)|St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral]] in [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], where his mother lives.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 14, 2021|title='The Wire' actor's private funeral service will be held in Harrisburg, his adopted city|url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/09/the-wire-actors-private-funeral-service-will-be-held-in-harrisburg-his-adopted-city.html|access-date=September 14, 2021|website=pennlive|language=en|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914112417/https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/09/the-wire-actors-private-funeral-service-will-be-held-in-harrisburg-his-adopted-city.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Baltimore Ravens]] played a tribute to Williams by playing his character Omar Little's whistle of the song "[[The Farmer in the Dell]]" as part of the team intro all throughout the [[M&T Bank Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/20/ravens-honor-late-michael-k-williams-with-the-wire-tribute/ |title=Ravens honor late Michael K. Williams with 'The Wire' tribute |work=USA today |date=September 20, 2021 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630034923/https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/20/ravens-honor-late-michael-k-williams-with-the-wire-tribute/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Félix Bautista (baseball)|Félix Bautista]] of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] began entering the game to Omar's whistle as a tribute.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kostka |first=Andy |date=August 18, 2022 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-felix-bautista-wire-t-shirt-omar-little-felix-comin-20220818-a4pfopygmreb3bdxzer4mw5mim-story.html |title=Orioles closer Félix Bautista is embracing Michael K. Williams' Omar whistle. Now he has his own T-shirt. |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=December 23, 2022 |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205182034/https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-felix-bautista-wire-t-shirt-omar-little-felix-comin-20220818-a4pfopygmreb3bdxzer4mw5mim-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February 2022, police arrested four men in connection with Williams' death.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60238194 |title=Four charged in drug death of The Wire actor Michael K Williams |work=BBC News |date=February 2, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206171453/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60238194 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2023, drug dealer Irvin Cartagena pleaded guilty to selling the mix of heroin and fentanyl to Williams which resulted in his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/michael-k-williams-death-drug-dealer-pleads-guilty-to-providing-the-wire-actor-with-fentanyl-laced-heroin-12851174|title=Michael K Williams death: Drug dealer pleads guilty to providing The Wire actor with fentanyl-laced heroin|work=Sky News|date=April 6, 2023|accessdate=April 7, 2023|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407070721/https://news.sky.com/story/michael-k-williams-death-drug-dealer-pleads-guilty-to-providing-the-wire-actor-with-fentanyl-laced-heroin-12851174|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2023, four men took guilty pleas and Carlos Macci, one of the men, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vago |first=Steven |last2=DeGregory |first2=Priscilla |date=2023-07-25 |title=Drug dealer gets 2.5 years in Michael K. Williams overdose case |url=https://nypost.com/2023/07/25/drug-dealer-gets-2-5-years-in-michael-k-williams-overdose-case/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Ingrid |date=26 July 2023 |title=Drug Dealer Involved in Death of Michael K. Williams Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison |url=https://people.com/man-involved-in-death-of-michael-k-williams-receives-prison-sentence-7565601 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>
==Filmography==
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| ''[[Breaking (film)|Breaking]]''
| Eli Bernard
| rowspan="2" | Posthumous release
|-
|2023
| |||