The World Says Goodbye To Michael K. Williams

 

CREDIT: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Michael Kenneth Williams, known more commonly as Michael K. Williams and for his roles in The Wire, Lovecraft Country and Boardwalk Empire, has sadly passed away at the age of 54.

He was found dead on Monday in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment around 2:00pm. His nephew was the one who discovered his body in the living room.

"It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss."

CREDIT: Amy Sussman/Getty Images/FilmMagic

There is yet to be a cause of death released, although there was drug paraphernalia found in the actor's apartment.

A law enforcement representative reveals that Williams died of a suspected overdose. Officials believe he may have taken heroin laced with fentanyl.

Michael has previously been open with his struggles around drug dependency. He was raised in the Vanderveer Projects of the East Flatbush neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York. Here he was exposed to crime at a young age and became addicted to drugs as a teenager.

He had explained that although he had had treatment, he had relapsed multiple times. "Addiction doesn't go away. It's an everyday struggle for me, but I'm fighting."

CREDIT: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Many friends and family have shared tributes to the late actor.

"The depth of my love for this brother, can only be matched by the depth of my pain learning of his loss. A immensely talented man with the ability to give voice to the human condition portraying the lives of those whose humanity is seldom elevated until he sings their truth." - Wendell Pierce.

"Michael K Williams, in addition to being one of the most talented actors around, was also one of the kindest, sweetest, most gentle souls I've ever met. This is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with all those who loved him." - James Gunn.

Michael first became prominent after his portrayal of Omar Little in HBO's The Wire. His role has been praised over the years for showcasing a gay Black man that has the reputation of a merciless criminal in the Baltimore streets.

HBO released a statement explaining they were "devastated" to hear of his passing. They revealed he was "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."

During his lifetime, he has also appeared in Law & Order, The Sopranos, Alias, Boardwalk Empire, Community and When They See Us.

His movie roles included Gone Baby Gone, The Incredible Hulk, 12 Years A Slave, Inherent Vice, and Ghostbusters (2016).

Most recently he appeared in HBO's Lovecraft Country. This earned him his fifth Emmy nomination in July. The winners won't be announced until September 19th. In this, he portrayed Montrose, a Black man who discovers his sexuality during the 1950s. This compares to his role on The Wire. 

CREDIT: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

"Montrose was different. He didn't have the freedom Omar had or the confidence. He comes from such a broken place. I just had to find my own pain and my own trauma, which was a very painful experience for me. All the generational pain that had been passed down through my own personal experiences, I had to dig deep down in that for Montrose."

"I would hope that after watching Lovecraft, people walk away with this understanding of the beauty and necessity of a father-son relationship in the Black community. Black fathers have been ripped away from their sons for so many years, mine included. That was the main thing that attracted me to this role, was the opportunity to play dad to that amazing Jonathan Majors and for us to explore what father and son bonding looks like and how we can rebuild that and treasure it."

"There's an absence of the Black male in our community for a lot of reasons and some of it isn't our fault but the need is there. It's a beautiful thing to look at. I hope Montrose will remind us how much little Black boys need their fathers."

"We are so conditioned to mask our pain as Black men in America. We're not allowed to cry, we're not allowed to be vulnerable. We're not allowed to be soft. I hope that Montrose will at least open up a conversation for Black men in America."