Michael Kenneth Williams, an Emmy-nominated actor and producer, was a highly respected and acclaimed talent of his generation. He brought complex and charismatic characters to life, often with surprising tenderness, establishing himself as a gifted and versatile performer with a unique ability to mesmerize audiences with his stunning character portrayals.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1966, Williams is best known for his remarkable work on the critically acclaimed series The Wire, where he played the iconic character Omar, a whistle-happy, profanity-averse, openly gay drug dealer-robbing stickup man. His portrayal of Omar earned him high praise and made him one of television's most memorable characters.
Williams also co-starred in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, playing Chalky White, a 1920s bootlegger and the impeccably suited, veritable mayor of Atlantic City's African American community. The show won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2012.
In addition to his television work, Williams received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie for his portrayal of Freddy in HBO's The Night Of in 2016. He also received his second nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his work on the same show.
In 2018, Williams produced and starred in an extended special season premiere of Vice, titled "Raised in the System," which explored the root of the American mass incarceration crisis: the juvenile justice system. The episode offered a frank and unflinching look at those caught up in the system, exploring why the country's mass incarceration problem cannot be fixed without first addressing the juvenile justice problem.
Williams was also a strong advocate for giving back to the community. He launched Making Kids Win, a charitable organization that aims to build community centers in urban neighborhoods that are in need of safe spaces for children to learn and play. He also served as the ACLU's Ambassador of Smart Justice.
Before pursuing acting seriously, Williams began his career as a performer by dancing professionally at the age of 22. He appeared in numerous music videos and as a background dancer on concert tours for Madonna and George Michael. Williams also participated in several productions of the La MaMA Experimental Theater, the 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 untimely death on September 6, 2021.
