“The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams was found dead in his New York City apartment Monday, according to law-enforcement. According to the New York Post the 54-year-old actor may have died of an accidental drug overdose, possibly related to heroin or fentanyl:
“The Wire’’ actor Michael K. Williams was found dead of a suspected drug overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse Monday afternoon, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
Drug paraphernalia was found in the five-time Emmy nominee’s apartment, suggesting the acclaimed 54-year-old actor may have fatally OD’d, possibly from heroin or fentanyl, sources said.
“No foul play indicated,” a police source said. “No forced entry, the apartment was in order.”
Williams was found dead by his nephew in the living room of his Kent Avenue pad in the luxury Williamsburg high-rise, sources said.
The Flatbush native — currently a 2021 Emmy Award nominee as best supporting actor for “Lovecraft Country” — was famous for his role as Omar Little in the gritty TV series “The Wire,’’ and as Chalky White in “Boardwalk Empire.’’
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.
I thoroughly enjoyed Michael K. Williams’ acting over the years. His role as Omar on The Wire was so iconic that I was afraid Williams could get typecast. I am not sure Omar was supposed to be such a major character on the show, but it rarely a scene Williams was not in that he did not steal. Williams, Chad Coleman, Idris Elba, Wood Harris (and others) helped make The Wire one of the most-critically acclaimed shows in television history.
Williams followed up his performance on The Wire with his role as Chalky White on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. There Williams showed a range of emotions, playing a father, a husband businessman and keeper of the peace in the black community in Atlantic City. I expected big things from Williams on network television an on the silver screen, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. It could be way too premature to determine the cause of death, but the opioid crisis has dominated the 24-hour news cycle over the past few years. Apparently, we have a lot more work to do in battling drug addiction and accidental drug overdoses.
