Michael K. Williams, 'Wire' actor, found dead

3 years ago 385

(CNN)Michael K. Williams, an histrion champion known for his relation arsenic Omar Little connected HBO's "The Wire," has died. He was 54.

Williams was recovered dormant successful his New York City flat Monday afternoon, a instrumentality enforcement authoritative told CNN.

Investigators recovered cause paraphernalia adjacent his body, the authoritative said. The probe is ongoing, according to different instrumentality enforcement root who spoke to CNN.

"It is with heavy sorrow that the household announces the passing of Emmy nominated histrion Michael Kenneth Williams. They inquire for your privateness portion grieving this unsurmountable loss," his long-time rep Marianna Shafran of Shafran PR told The Hollywood Reporter.

CNN has contacted representatives of Williams for comment.

In a 2017 interview with the New York Times, Williams spoke openly astir his struggles with substance abuse.

"Addiction doesn't spell away," helium said astatine the time. "It's an mundane conflict for me, but I'm fighting."

Williams, a Brooklyn native, astir precocious appeared successful HBO's "Lovecraft Country" and the bid "F Is for Family."

He became an astir iconic fig for galore acknowledgment to his relation successful "The Wire" arsenic Omar Little, a shotgun-wielding quality who made his surviving robbing cause dealers. He followed that up arsenic a mobster successful the HBO Prohibition-era mob play "Boardwalk Empire," and astir precocious earned an Emmy information for different bid connected the wage network, the macabre "Lovecraft Country."

Williams was adjacent slated to co-star successful Sony's George Foreman biopic from George Tillman Jr., who was acceptable to direct.

Williams amassed a fig of accolades during his storied career, including 5 Emmy nominations. His archetypal was successful 2015 for his relation successful "Bessie" and different followed 2 years aboriginal for his portion successful "The Night Of."

He was besides the victor of a SAG Award for champion ensemble with the formed of "Boardwalk Empire."

On societal media, Williams' galore colleagues and friends recalled the depth, complexity and humanity helium brought to his characters connected surface and, supra all, the antheral helium was disconnected screen.

"Michael K Williams was a beautiful, passionate, expansive soul. I felt truthful fortunate to person known him, and we were each truthful fortunate to person enjoyed his unthinkable talent," Aisha Tyler wrote connected Twitter. "He burned truthful precise bright."

Director James Gunn added: "Michael K Williams, successful summation to being 1 of the astir talented actors around, was besides 1 of the kindest, sweetest, astir gentle souls I've ever met. This is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with each those who loved him."

Musician Saul Williams wrote: "For years Wikipedia listed Michael K. Williams arsenic my brother. Neither 1 of america chose to close it, alternatively we took it astatine its word. 'We're brothers, yo.' He shared poems with me. We broke breadstuff & kicked it whenever we could. A heavy & sincere connection. A beauteous spirit."

CNN's Brian Lowry and Marianne Garvey contributed to this report.

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