Michael K. Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael K. Williams
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Williams at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2012
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Michael Kenneth Williams
November 22, 1966 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | September 6, 2021 (aged 54) Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1994–2021 |
| Children | 3 |
Michael Kenneth Williams (November 22, 1966 – September 6, 2021) was an American actor. He became very famous for his role as Omar Little in the HBO drama series The Wire, starting in 2002. Many people said he was a unique actor who made every character special.
Michael was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His father was from South Carolina and his mother was from the Bahamas. He first studied at the National Black Theatre. However, he soon left school to become a dancer. He worked with famous singers like Kym Sims, George Michael, and Madonna. He also helped create dances for music videos.
His special voice, a scar on his face, and his strong personality helped him get acting jobs. One of his first roles was with Tupac Shakur in the 1996 film Bullet. Then, he was chosen for The Wire in 2002. His acting as Omar was highly praised. Even President Barack Obama liked his work. Michael won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 2007.
Michael also played Albert "Chalky" White in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire from 2010 to 2014. He was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards for his roles in other shows and movies. These included Bessie (2015), When They See Us (2019), The Night Of (2016), and Lovecraft Country (2020). He also appeared in the sitcom Community from 2011 to 2012. Michael had important roles in many films like 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Ghostbusters (2016).
Many people believe Michael Williams's portrayal of Omar Little was one of the best in TV history. He helped change American television into an art form with shows like The Wire. After he passed away, many people around the world honored his work.
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Early Life and Education
Michael Williams was born on November 22, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York City. His mother, Paula Thompson, was born in the Bahamas. His father, Booker T. Williams, was from Greeleyville, South Carolina. Michael grew up in the Vanderveer Projects in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He went to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School. Later, he studied at the National Black Theatre in New York City.
Career Journey
Michael Williams first worked as a temporary employee for a company called Pfizer. But he was inspired by Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 and decided to follow his dream of becoming a dancer. He left school and his job, even though his family did not agree.
For a year, Michael did not have a steady home. He visited many music companies and dance studios to find work. He got a job as a background dancer for singer Kym Sims. This led to more dancing jobs in music videos and tours with famous artists like George Michael and Madonna. He also did some modeling. In 1994, he helped create the dances for Crystal Waters' song "100% Pure Love".
Michael had a noticeable scar on his face from a fight on his 25th birthday. This scar became a unique part of his look. It helped him get roles as tough characters in music videos. He also got modeling jobs with famous photographers like David LaChapelle. One of his first acting roles was with Tupac Shakur in the 1996 film Bullet. Tupac reportedly chose Michael for the role after seeing his photo.
Michael Williams also worked as a celebrity ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He supported their Campaign for Smart Justice.
Playing Omar Little in The Wire
Michael Williams became very well-known for playing Omar Little in the TV show The Wire. Filming for the show started in 2002. Michael got the role after just one audition. The writer, Ed Burns, encouraged him to try out.
USA Today newspaper called Michael "one of ten reasons they still love television" because of his role as Omar. The newspaper praised Omar for being a unique character. They also said Michael brought humor to the role. Omar was seen as one of the most interesting characters in the show's first season. He was like a Robin Hood figure in Baltimore. In 2007, Michael was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his work as Omar.
Michael wanted to play Omar because he was interested in Omar's mixed personality. He thought Omar was popular because he was honest and did not care about money. He also liked that Omar followed his own strict rules. Michael felt that this role helped him get noticed and find more acting jobs.
In 2008, when he was a U.S. Senator, Barack Obama said The Wire was his favorite TV show. He also said Omar was his favorite character. Obama described Omar as "the toughest, baddest guy on the show."
Other Acting Roles
Michael Williams had a repeating role in J. J. Abrams' show Alias. He also appeared in another Abrams-produced show, Six Degrees. He made short appearances in many other TV shows. These included CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Boston Legal, The Sopranos, and Law & Order.
Michael played a police sniper named Q in The Kill Point. He acted alongside other stars from The Wire. He also played a detective named Devin Amronklin in the 2007 film Gone, Baby, Gone. This movie was based on a book by Dennis Lehane, who also wrote for The Wire. Michael said he enjoyed working with the director, Ben Affleck.
He played Teddy in the Chris Rock film I Think I Love My Wife. Michael also appeared in music videos for artists like R. Kelly and The Game. In 2009, he played The Thief in the movie The Road. In 2010, Michael was in the film Life During Wartime.
Michael also starred in the movie A Day in the Life, which was a musical where all the lines were rapped. From 2010 to 2014, Michael starred in HBO's Boardwalk Empire. He played Albert "Chalky" White, a leader in Atlantic City's black community in the 1920s.
In 2011, Michael joined the sitcom Community for at least three episodes. He played Biology Professor Marshall Kane. In 2013, Michael appeared in music videos for MGMT and Jay-Z. He also modeled for The Gap's 2014 fall collection. Michael was the voice of Kimble “Irish” Graves in the video game Battlefield 4.
In 2016, Michael started hosting a show called Black Market for Vice News. In this show, he explored different secret markets around the world. In 2018, he worked with Vice again on "Raised in the System." In this episode, he looked into the juvenile justice system in America. In 2020, he played Montrose Freeman in the HBO series Lovecraft Country.
Later Life and Passing
Michael Williams lived in Brooklyn until he passed away in 2021. He was 54 years old. His private funeral was held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where his mother lives.
The Baltimore Ravens football team honored Michael by playing his character Omar Little's whistle of "The Farmer in the Dell" during their team introductions. In 2022, Félix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team also started using Omar's whistle when he entered games.
Film and Television Roles
Michael K. Williams appeared in many films and television shows throughout his career. Here are some of his notable roles:
Films
- Bullet (1996) as High Top
- I Think I Love My Wife (2007) as Teddy
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) as Devin
- The Road (2009) as Thief
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) as Robert
- RoboCop (2014) as Jack Lewis
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014) as Carmelo Johns
- Inherent Vice (2014) as Tariq Khalil
- The Gambler (2014) as Neville Baraka
- Triple 9 (2016) as Sweet Pea
- Ghostbusters (2016) as Agent Hawkins
- Assassin's Creed (2016) as Moussa
- Motherless Brooklyn (2019) as Trumpet Man
- Critical Thinking (2020) as Mr. Roundtree
Television Shows
- The Sopranos (2001) as Ray Ray
- The Wire (2002–2008) as Omar Little
- Alias (2005) as Roberts
- Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014) as Chalky White
- Community (2011–2012) as Dr. Marshall Kane
- Bessie (2015) as Jack Gee
- The Night Of (2016) as Freddy Knight
- Hap and Leonard (2016–2018) as Leonard Pine
- When We Rise (2017) as Ken Jones
- When They See Us (2019) as Bobby McCray
- Lovecraft Country (2020) as Montrose Freeman
Awards and Nominations
Michael K. Williams received many awards and nominations for his acting. You can find a full list here:
See also
In Spanish: Michael K. Williams para niños
