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IMDbPro

Michael Kenneth Williams(1966-2021)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00024
Michael Kenneth Williams at an event for Game of Thrones (2011)
We pay tribute to the life and career of Michael K. Williams, the Emmy-nominated actor best known for "The Wire," "Boardwalk Empire," and "Lovecraft Country."
Play clip1:22
Remembering Michael K. Williams
64 Videos
99+ Photos
Emmy-nominated actor and producer Michael Kenneth Williams was one of his generation's most respected and acclaimed talents. By bringing complicated and charismatic characters to life--often with surprising tenderness--Williams established himself as a gifted and versatile performer with a unique ability to mesmerize audiences with his stunning character portrayals.

Born in 1966 in Brooklyn, Williams was best known for his remarkable work on The Wire (2002). The wit and humor that Williams brought to Omar, the whistle-happy, profanity-averse, openly gay drug dealer-robbing stickup man, earned him high praise, and made Omar one of television's most memorable characters. Williams also co-starred in HBO's critically acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire (2010), in which he played Chalky White, a 1920s bootlegger and the impeccably suited, veritable mayor of Atlantic City's African American community. In 2012, "Boardwalk Empire" won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie for HBO's Bessie (2015) and subsequently received his second nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his portrayal of Freddy in HBO's The Night Of (2016).

In 2018, Vice (2013) returned for its sixth season with an extended special season premiere produced by and featuring Williams as he embarked on a personal journey to expose the root of the American mass incarceration crisis: the juvenile justice system. The episode "Raised in the System" offered a frank and unflinching look at those caught up the system, exploring why the country's mass incarceration problem cannot be fixed without first addressing the juvenile justice problem. Williams investigated the solutions that local communities were employing that resulted in drastic drops in both crime and incarceration. Michael garnered his first Emmy nomination as a producer for this incredible documentary and continues to host screenings across the country as a way to educate and raise awareness.

Giving back to the community played an important role in Williams' off-camera life. He launched Making Kids Win, a charitable organization, the primary objective of which is to build community centers in urban neighborhoods that are in need of safe spaces for children to learn and play. Williams served as the ACLU's Ambassador of Smart Justice.

Williams began his career as a performer by dancing professionally at age 22. After numerous appearances in music videos and as a background dancer on concert tours for Madonna and George Michael, Williams decided to pursue acting seriously. He participated in several productions of the La MaMA Experimental Theater, the prestigious National Black Theater Company. and the Theater for a New Generation, directed by Mel Williams.

Michael K. Williams was born, raised, and resided in Brooklyn, New York, until his death on September 6, 2021.
BornNovember 22, 1966
DiedSeptember 6, 2021(54)
BornNovember 22, 1966
DiedSeptember 6, 2021(54)
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00024
  • Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys
    • 19 wins & 31 nominations total

Remembering Michael K. Williams (1966-2021)

Remembering Michael K. Williams (1966-2021)

We celebrate the life and career of Michael K. Williams.
See more photos
View image
Photos

Photos150

Michael Kenneth Williams in Breaking (2022)
Michael Kenneth Williams and Mel Fair in Breaking (2022)
Michael Kenneth Williams in No Small Parts (2014)
Michael Kenneth Williams in TCM Remembers 2021 (2021)
Michael Kenneth Williams and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Jurnee Smollett, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Michael Kenneth Williams and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Michael Kenneth Williams in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Michael Kenneth Williams in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Chris Evans and Michael Kenneth Williams in The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)
Michael Kenneth Williams in When They See Us (2019)
Chris Evans, Michiel Huisman, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Haley Bennett in The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)

Known for

The Wire (2002)
The Wire
9.3
TV Series
  • Omar Little
Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
12 Years a Slave
8.1
  • Robert
  • 2013
Assassin's Creed (2016)
Assassin's Creed
5.6
  • Moussa(as Michael K. Williams)
  • 2016
Vic Noto in Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Boardwalk Empire
8.6
TV Series
  • Chalky White

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Surrounded
    • Post-production
  • Vital Signs
    • Negativity
    • Completed
    • TV Series
  • Breaking (2022)
    Breaking
    • Eli Bernard
    • 2022
  • Laura Dern, Bill Burr, Debi Derryberry, Justin Long, and Haley Reinhart in F Is for Family (2015)
    F Is for Family
    • Smokey Greenwood (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2021
  • Battlefield 2042 (2021)
    Battlefield 2042
    • Kimble 'Irish' Graves (voice)
    • Video Game
    • 2021
  • Body Brokers (2021)
    Body Brokers
    • Wood
    • 2021
  • Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
    Lovecraft Country
    • Montrose Freeman (as Michael K. Williams)
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    Critical Thinking
    • Mr. Roundtree
    • 2020
  • Damian Lillard in NBA 2K21 (2020)
    NBA 2K21
    • Archie Baldwin (voice, as Michael K. Williams)
    • Video Game
    • 2020
  • Vince Vaughn and Liam Hemsworth in Arkansas (2020)
    Arkansas
    • Almond
    • 2020
  • Sterling Brim, Dorian Missick, Michael Kenneth Williams, Hisham Tawfiq, Nashawn Kearse, Diggy Simmons, Coffey, Akintola Jiboyewa, Tyler Lepley, and Ebony Obsidian in About The People (2019)
    About The People
    • The Senator
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Father (2019)
    Father
    • Grandfather
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Motherless Brooklyn
    • Trumpet Man
    • 2019
  • Ben Kingsley, Greg Kinnear, Chris Evans, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Haley Bennett in The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)
    The Red Sea Diving Resort
    • Kabede Bimro
    • 2019
  • Asante Blackk, Marquis Rodriguez, Caleel Harris, and Ethan Herisse in When They See Us (2019)
    When They See Us
    • Bobby McCray
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2019
  • John Oliver in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)
    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
    • Richard Sackler (as Michael K. Williams)
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • The Guest Book (2017)
    The Guest Book
    • Gabe
    • TV Series
    • 2018

Producer

  • Michael Kenneth Williams in Black Market with Michael K. Williams (2016)
    Black Market with Michael K. Williams
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2016–2022
  • Sterling Brim, Dorian Missick, Michael Kenneth Williams, Hisham Tawfiq, Nashawn Kearse, Diggy Simmons, Coffey, Akintola Jiboyewa, Tyler Lepley, and Ebony Obsidian in About The People (2019)
    About The People
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Vice (2013)
    Vice
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Grace After Midnight Pain (2016)
    Grace After Midnight Pain
    • producer
    • 2016
  • Shelter (2016)
    Shelter
    • executive producer
    • 2016
  • Tyrone Paul Jr. and Jared Crowelle in Bro (2014)
    Bro
    • executive producer (as Michael K. Williams)
    • Short
    • 2014
  • The Wire: The Musical
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2012
  • Snow on Tha Bluff (2011)
    Snow on Tha Bluff
    • executive producer
    • 2011

Additional Crew

  • Battlefield 4 (2013)
    Battlefield 4
    • motion capture performer: Sgt. Kimble 'Irish' Graves
    • Video Game
    • 2013
  • Mike Tyson in Taking on Tyson (2011)
    Taking on Tyson
    • narrator
    • TV Series
    • 2011
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos67

Michael Kenneth Williams: Purple Rain, Boyz n the Hood and Dead Presidents
Full Episode 52:16
Michael Kenneth Williams: Purple Rain, Boyz n the Hood and Dead Presidents
The Legacy of Michael Kenneth Williams
Clip 4:07
The Legacy of Michael Kenneth Williams
Remembering Michael K. Williams
Clip 1:22
Remembering Michael K. Williams
Michael Kenneth Williams on Why 'Purple Rain' Changed His Life
Clip 1:00
Michael Kenneth Williams on Why 'Purple Rain' Changed His Life
Emilio Estevez Gets a LIVE Surprise from Michael K. Williams for 'The Public'
Clip 15:06
Emilio Estevez Gets a LIVE Surprise from Michael K. Williams for 'The Public'
Assassin's Creed
Clip 0:50
Assassin's Creed
The Gambler
Clip 1:01
The Gambler
The Gambler
Clip 1:01
The Gambler
The Gambler
Clip 0:38
The Gambler
12 Years a Slave
Clip 0:41
12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave
Clip 0:56
12 Years a Slave
Life During Wartime
Clip 1:11
Life During Wartime

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook Fan Page
    • Instagram
  • Alternative names
    • Michael K. Williams
  • Height
    • 5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
  • Born
    • November 22, 1966
    • Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • September 6, 2021
    • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA(drug overdose)
  • Children
      Elijah M Williams
  • Parents
    • Booker T Williams
  • Relatives
    • Michelle Chambers(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Appeared in Game's video "How We Do" (2005)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    His large facial scar is the result of a bar fight he got involved in on his 25th birthday. His assailants sliced him with razor blades.
  • Quotes
    [on how similar he is to his character Omar Little in The Wire (2002)] - I was never a thug. I never even liked to fight.
  • Trademarks
      Facial scar

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