Michael K. Williams remained synonymous with perseverance. Even though he didn't have a splendid start in the entertainment industry, he stood by his hard work and dream of making it big as an actor.
Needless to say, his hard work paid off. The Brooklyn native became one of the sought-after actors with incomparable acting prowess and influential presence.
He made himself known as Omar in the 2000s series The Wire, gangster Chalky White in Boardwalk Empire, and Montrose Freeman in Lovecraft Country.
Thanks to his undebatable talents, Williams bagged five Emmy nominations for five different projects — Bessie, The Night Of, Vice, When They See Us, and Lovecraft Country.
Michael K. Williams Believed His Scar Helped Him in Career
The talented actor believed that his scar from the middle of his forehead to the right side of his mouth helped him get roles in movies. He opened up about the scar during an interview with NPR in 2014.
As per his accounts, Williams was having a hard time getting significant roles. He was working as a dancer for Madonna and George Michael.
But that all changed once he got embroiled in a nasty altercation on his 25th birthday. That night, he was having a good time at a party in Queens. He went outside to get some air and saw that his friends were surrounded by strange men.
To minimize the tension, Williams loudly informed his friends he was heading home. But his notice caught the attention of one man, who instantly started following him.
When the then-young artist tried to stop the man, the stranger put a razor blade in his hands, between his middle and ring finger, and immediately slashed Williams' face.
The actor recounted he and his friends barely escaped with their lives that night. But then, he shared how the cut changed his life forever.
Producers didn't want him to dance in songs anymore but play thug roles and hardened men. Just like that, he got his breakout role alongside Tupac Shakur in the 1996 film Bullet. And the rest is history.
In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2011, Williams explained why he didn't fight back in that ordeal. He clarified he didn't want blood on his hands.
Moreover, The Wire star added he would find himself ugly if he had taken the other route. But he stayed with the positivity and chose not to react in revenge.
Michael K. Williams Died at 54
Williams, age 54, was found dead at his Brooklyn penthouse apartment on September 6, 2021. His nephew discovered his body in the living room, according to People.
Just after the tragedy, his representative confirmed the news of his death to the news outlet.
Although his cause of death hasn't been confirmed, it was reported that drug paraphernalia was found in his apartment. There is a suspicion that the actor died of an overdose. He had a history of drug dependency.
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