Melvin Williams (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melvin Williams
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| Born | December 14, 1941 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Died | December 3, 2015 (aged 73) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Occupation | Author, Actor, Entrepreneur, Community Activist |
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Melvin Douglas "Little Melvin" Williams (December 14, 1941 – December 3, 2015) was an African-American actor, author, entrepreneur, public speaker, educator, community activist, and gambler. Williams was sentenced to prison in 1985. After his release he began working as a community activist to help reform the lives of underprivileged minorities and youth. He later appeared as “The Deacon” in the HBO series The Wire and served as an inspiration for the show.
Early life
Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His father worked as a cab driver, while his mother worked as a nurse's assistant.
Acting career
Williams began to appear on the HBO show The Wire during the show's second season. He played the role of the Deacon starting in the third season. The BET show American Gangster profiled Williams in one episode.
In the 1999 film Liberty Heights, the character Little Melvin portrayed by actor Orlando Jones is loosely based upon Williams in the early stages of his career. Other appearances include his cameo in Baltimore hip hop duo Dirt Platoon's video for the song "Pennsylvania Avenue" in 2010.
Death
Williams died on December 3, 2015, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
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