Actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his role on the
HBO
series
The Wire
, was found dead Monday in his New York apartment, a city police spokesman confirmed.
Agents responded to an incident in the Brooklyn apartment at 2:00 p.m. Monday and
found the deceased actor.
The cause of death could be an overdose, police sources told the New York Post and NBC 4 New York, but an investigation is ongoing to determine exactly what happened.
Michael K. Williams in March of this year in Miami, Florida, for the SAG Awards (Rodrigo Varela / Getty Images)
Near the actor's body, drug paraphernalia (items that are used to produce and consume narcotics) were found, reported CNN.
In a 2017 interview with The New York Times, Williams had spoken publicly about her difficulties with substance abuse.
"The addiction doesn't go away," he said on that occasion.
"It is a daily fight for me, but I am fighting," he added.
Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York, in November 1966.
He began his career in show business
at age 22
as a professional dancer and appeared in more than 50 music videos, according to TV Guide.
He made his film debut in the 1996 film
Bullet
, in which he played High Top.
It was Tupac Shakur who discovered Williams' talent and cast him in the film, according to the actor's website.
Williams also acted in films such as
Martin Scorsese's
Bringing Out the Dead,
and others such as
The Road
,
Gone Baby Gone
,
Life During Wartime
,
I Think I Love My Wife,
and
Wonderful World
.
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Although perhaps arguably he was best known for his role as Omar Little on the HBO series
The Wire
, which aired for five seasons.
Even former President Barack Obama noted in 2012 that he was
his favorite character
on the show.
"That guy is amazing," he said.
On social media, many of Williams' colleagues and friends recalled the depth, complexity and humanity he brought to his characters on screen and, above all, the man he was in real life.
"Michael K. Williams was a beautiful, passionate and communicative soul. I felt very fortunate to have met him, and we were all very fortunate to have enjoyed his incredible talent," Aisha Tyler wrote on Twitter.
"It burned with a lot of light," he added.
Director James Gunn said: "In addition to being one of the most talented actors, he was also
one of the kindest, sweetest and most gentle souls I have ever met
. This is heartbreaking. My thoughts go out to everyone who loved him."
Williams was also praised for his work as Albert 'Chalky' White on
HBO's
Boardwalk Empire
, as well as for the role of Jack Gee, Bessie Smith's husband, in the HBO biopic
Bessie
.
He also appeared in the Oscar-winning
12 Years a Slave
.
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"This is totally devastating. Sweet Michael. You were one of the best actors ever. Rest in peace," wrote actress Patricia Arquette on Twitter.
With information from NBC News, CNN and the Los Angeles Times.
