The passing of esteemed actor Michael K. Williams shocked the world this week.
Williams’ portrayal of Omar Little, Baltimore’s shotgun-wielding stickup — a modern-day Robin Hood on HBO series “The Wire” will forever go down as one of the most highly-regarded characters ever to grace a television series.
Michaels was found dead on Monday in his home in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. He was 54.
Days later, the tributes to Williams continue to roll in.
Wendell Pierce, who played Detective William “Bunk” Moreland on the series, was one of the first celebrities to pay tribute to the fallen star.
“His name was Michael K. Williams,” Pierce wrote in a lengthy Twitter thread. “He shared with me his secret fears then stepped out into his acting with true courage, acting in the face of fear, not in the absence of it. It took me years to learn what Michael had in abundance.
He added: “He was proud of the artist he had become, asking for my advice long after he had surpassed any incite I could have shared,” he wrote of Williams. “Always truthful, never inauthentic. The kindest of persons…”
Orioles announcer Kevin Brown also paid tribute to Williams by using one of Omar’s most iconic lines, “If you come at the king, you best not miss.”
Williams starred in several notable television series including, “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Night Of,” and “When We Rise.” Throughout his career, Williams received five Emmy Award nominations. This year he is up for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Montrose Freeman on the HBO show “Lovecraft Country.”
Williams starred in several Hollywood movies, including the Steve McQueen-directed “12 Years a Slave” and post-apocalyptic survival flick “The Road.”
