Hollywood mourns dying of 'The Wire' star Michael ok. Williams: 'Our greats are leaving us'

Actor Michael ok. Williams, from 'The Wire,' has died at fifty four

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Tributes poured in Monday night for 5-time Emmy Award nominee Michael ok. Williams, megastar of "The Wire" and "Lovecraft nation," as news unfold of his dying.

Williams, 54, was found dead Monday afternoon at domestic in Brooklyn, new york police demonstrated to us of a these days. Police informed The associated Press that his dying become being investigated as a possible drug overdose.

The actor, famed for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire," the Baltimore-based drama about crime and corruption, starred in a slew of HBO series, among them "Lovecraft country," "Boardwalk Empire" and "The nighttime Of." His film roles included "12 Years A Slave," "gone child long past" and "Inherent Vice."

© LISA O'CONNOR, AFP/Getty pictures US actor Michael okay. Williams attend the The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA have a good time the 2019 category of Emmy Nominees event at AVRA in Beverly Hills, California, on September 20, 2019. (image with the aid of LISA O'CONNOR / AFP)LISA O'CONNOR/AFP/Getty photographs ORG XMIT: The Holly ORIG FILE identification: AFP_1KH1LC

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Williams failed to shy faraway from discussing heavy themes or shedding gentle on the darkest moments of his lifestyles in interviews. 

In a 2016 NPR interview with Terry Gross, Williams noted his drug use — primarily across the time he changed into engaged on "The Wire." 

"around the 2d — greater like third season of 'The Wire.' i was on medicine, and that i changed into in jeopardy of destroying every thing that I had worked so complicated for," the late actor stated. 

When requested about why he continued to use medication in the middle of the success of the HBO exhibit, Williams shared he failed to "consider helpful of (an) chance like that." 

"Then, you be aware of, when i was given this persona as Omar, I might've used it as a nurturing device for myself. It might've been cathartic for me … in its place of really doing the work and finding out how I might use this persona to make myself feel about more advantageous, I simply — I used it instead of me. It became… it became like my crutch." 

Obituary: Michael ok. Williams, superstar of 'The Wire' and 'Lovecraft nation,' dead at 54

© Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP during this Saturday, July 30, 2016, file image, Michael Kenneth Williams, a forged member in the HBO collection "The nighttime Of," poses for a portrait all over the 2016 television Critics affiliation summer season Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Cal if. Williams, who performed the loved personality Omar Little on "The Wire," has died. long island metropolis police say Williams turned into discovered lifeless Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, at his condominium in Brooklyn. He was fifty four.

Fellow Hollywood actors took to social media Monday to share tributes and to remember the enduring Williams for the "captivating soul" that he was. 

Niecy Nash took to Instagram to honor her "when they See Us" co-big name, writing, "You have been soul, a kind spirit & a pretty good time… a talent past measure."

"thanks for the time and again we traded power and also you made me think like family," she continued. "You left us too soon… Praying for your relatives." 

Leslie Jones reflected on working with Williams on 2016's "Ghostbusters" on Instagram, writing, "no longer gonna lie this one (expletive) me up y'all!! Michael ok Williams changed into a solid dude. He become so excellent to me after we did ghostbusters and we bonded on many degrees!!"

Jones delivered: "rattling i used to be just thinking the subsequent time I saw him i used to be gonna tell him how dope of an actor he is. rattling y'all we misplaced a fine one. leisure in love my brother." 

Spike Lee shared a photo of him and Williams, writing that "it changed into a tricky day." 

"i am shook," Lee persevered. "Our greats are leaving us left and appropriate. God bless." 

Mariah Carey took to Twitter to share she'll "always" miss Williams. 

"a good looking soul, a pretty grownup, i could leave out you at all times," the singer wrote. "thanks for blessing us along with your talent." 

Ava DuVernay, "when they See Us" director, shared a series of pictures of the late actor, some from the set of the Netflix restricted collection. "I bear in mind the instances you'd come on set even in case you weren't on the call sheet. simply to share a hug," DuVernay wrote. 

"To cheer us on. running in like the King that you have been. for only a flash to give some love - then long gone." 

She endured: "I be aware you sending me a picture of your self as a young man and sharing with me that the boys whose story we have been telling have been a reflection of you - and we have been going to get it right. I remember you taking the young actors to the seashore to your own and talking to them about things I couldn't - about being a young, Black man in long island at the time - and the way grateful i was … You moved me. What you doubted in existence, be certain of now, dear brother. be certain. You had been a flash of affection - now gone. however on no account forgotten." 

Aisha Tyler remembered Williams as a "beautiful, passionate, expansive soul." 

"I felt so fortunate to have frequent him, and we had been all so lucky to have loved his striking talent. He burned so very brilliant. rest in energy, MKW. you'll invariably be The King," she wrote. 

Camrus Johnson recalled the time he met Williams "about eight years ago when i used to be nonetheless a heritage actor and man changed into he cool." 

"He's been one of the crucial black actors I've been in a position to lookup to ever given that, and i can't believe he's long past already," he wrote. 

Jay Pharoah expressed on Instagram that listening to information of Williams' dying made his "heart damage." 

"I can't consider i am typing this just saw him just a few weeks in the past. Did my first film w/him…one of the most nicest, talented, and (most) humble individuals you might ever meet…," he wrote. 

Aldis Hodge wrote he could not "even agree with this." 

"relaxation in energy, Mike. You were all the time a superb brother," the actor wrote. "a fantastic artist and a fair greater man or woman. We'll leave out you."

Giancarlo Esposito wrote on Instagram he had "not ever met a more loving, caring, fascinating human being" than Williams.

"a true buddy and thespian," he added. "i'll continuously pass over you my expensive brother." 

Orlando Jones, who seemed with Williams in "I consider i like My spouse," wrote that of the "gigantic" pain he felt to hear Williams had died.

"relaxation in energy Michael okay Williams Prayers Up. Spirits shook. pain giant. maintain your head up family," We'll pull via however first let's provide this black man each ultimate considered one of his (plant life). dangle on to the ones you (love)," Jones tweeted.

Williams' Omar Little, a "stick-up boy" in keeping with true figures from Baltimore, changed into doubtless probably the most cherished persona amongst committed fanatics of "The Wire," which ran from 2002 to 2008. 

And for the reason that his persona on "The Wire" changed into a fan favorite, people commonly conflated the actor and the position he performed. "people did not even call me Mike, they referred to as me Omar," he advised The (Newark) star-Ledger in a 2012 interview. "That blended with my id disaster and my dependancy – and it changed into no longer a fine combine. I had to stop trying to be Omar and simply be Mike." 

Williams' co-stars from the HBO sequence also paid tribute to him on social media. 

Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., who performed Maryland state senator Clay Davis on the demonstrate, expressed he was "bowled over and saddened" by Williams' demise. 

"one of the nicest brothers on earth with the greatest coronary heart," he wrote. "a good actor and soul. may you RIP. God bless."

Tray Chaney, who additionally starred in "The Wire," pointed out he changed into "beaten" to hear of Williams' death. 

"No phrases. i love you bro. RIP to the legend Michael k Williams aka one of the most dopest Actors/Brother on this planet," Chaney tweeted. "#Omar #TheWIRE for life. i'm off the grid for a long time to manner this one. i like you bro." 

Wendell Pierce, who performed Detective William "Bunk" Moreland, paid tribute to his former co-big name on Twitter, sharing that "the depth of my love for this brother, can best be matched with the aid of the depth of my pain learning of his loss."

He known as Williams an "immensely gifted man with the ability to supply voice to the human situation portraying the lives of these whose humanity is seldom improved unless he sings their certainty."  

Pierce brought that the HBO show "introduced" them together and "immortalized Omar & Bunk in that 'scene' on a park bench. but for us, we aimed to take that second in time collectively and say whatever thing about Black men. Our battle with ourselves, internally, and each other."

David Simon, creator of "The Wire," wrote he changed into "too gutted at this time to claim all that ought to be pointed out."

"Michael become a first-rate man and a rare talent and on our journey collectively he at all times deserved the most appropriate phrases," Simon brought. "And today those phrases won't come."

this article in the beginning regarded on u . s . a . nowadays: Hollywood mourns dying of 'The Wire' big name Michael okay. Williams: 'Our greats are leaving us'