Actor Michael K. Williams dies at 54 0:48
(CNN) -
Actor Michael K. Williams died of "acute poisoning from the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin and cocaine," the New York City medical examiner determined.
His death was considered accidental in nature, an office spokesman said in a statement Friday.
Williams was found dead in his New York City apartment earlier this month.
In a 2017 interview with the New York Times, Williams addressed her struggles with substance abuse.
Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the United States, confirms new government report
"The addiction doesn't go away," he said.
"It is a daily fight for me, but I am fighting."
Williams recently appeared on HBO's "Lovecraft Country" and on the series "F Is for Family."
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He rose to stardom for his powerful and nuanced portrayal of Omar Little on "The Wire."
He also received praise for his work on "Boardwalk Empire", "Bessie" and "The Night Of".
Williams was slated to co-star in Sony's George Foreman biopic about George Tillman Jr., which he was about to direct.
"The Wire" actor Michael K. Williams, Artemis Moshtaghian, found dead in his apartment
The news of Williams' sudden death drew a host of tributes from loved ones, fans, and friends in the entertainment world, including at last week's Emmys.
The ceremony's "In Memoriam" tribute ended with a quote from Williams: "The only way I can give thanks is by making sure the foundation I'm standing on is strong enough to support the next person who it will stop on these two shoulders. "
CNN's Sandra González and Scottie Andrew contributed to this story.
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These are the celebrities who have passed away so far in 2021. Look at the gallery →
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Legendary Puerto Rican salsa singer Roberto Roena died on September 23 at the age of 81.
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Willie Garson, known for his work on the "Sex and the City" series and films, died on September 21.
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Norm Macdonald, a comedian much loved hosting the popular "Weekend Update" segments of "Saturday Night Live," passed away on September 14, 2021 at age 61.
Macdonald had been battling cancer for several years, but kept his diagnosis private.
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Art Metrano, the comedian best known for his role as ruthless Police Captain Ernie Mauser in two "Police Academy" films, died on September 8 at age 84.
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Actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire," passed away on September 6 at age 54 of an accidental overdose.
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Jean-Paul Belmondo, a French film icon, passed away at the age of 88 on September 6, his lawyer confirmed.
(Photo: JOEL SAGET / AFP via Getty Images)
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David Patten, a winner of three Super Bowls as a player for the New England Patriots between 2001 and 2004, died on September 2.
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Sidharth Shukla, an Indian actor, model and presenter, passed away at the age of 40, the television station where he worked reported on September 2.
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Charlie Watts, the legendary drummer for the British band The Rolling Stones, died at the age of 80 on August 24, 2021. He was part of the group since 1963. (Credit: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP via Getty Images)
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German striker Gerd Müller, who in this picture was playing the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands, died on August 15 at the age of 75.
(Photo: STAFF / AFP via Getty Images)
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Dominican musician Johnny Ventura died on July 28 at age 81 (Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
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ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill died on July 28 in Houston (Credit: Ian Gavan / Getty Images)
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Joey Jordison, founder of the heavy metal band Slipknot, died at the age of 46 on July 26.
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Biz Markie, who endowed his music with so much fun and humor that he became known as "The Clown Prince of Hip Hop," passed away on July 16.
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Robert Downey Sr., actor, director and father of Robert Downey Jr., died at age 85 on July 7, 2021. (Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images)
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Carlos Reutemann, famous ex-Formula 1 driver and Argentine politician, died at the age of 79 on July 7, 2021. (Credit: Allsport) Hulton / Archive
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Richard Donner, an accomplished Hollywood producer and director known for his work on the "Lethal Weapon" film series and "The Goonies," died Monday, July 5, according to multiple reports.
He was 91 years old.
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The singer Raffaella Carrà, one of the most recognized artists in Italy, died on July 5, 2021 at the age of 78.
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Former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld died on June 30 at the age of 88.
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Cuban writer Delia Fiallo passed away on June 29.
Considered the "mother of the Latin American soap opera", Delia Fiallo wrote more than 40 radio and television works.
(Credit: LEILA MACOR / AFP via Getty Images)
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Former Skid Row singer Johnny Solinger has passed away, according to a post on the group's official Instagram page on Saturday, June 26.
He was 55 years old.
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The reckless Alex Harvill died Thursday, June 17 while practicing to break a world record for motorcycle ramp jumping, officials in Washington state said.
He was 28 years old.
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Actress Lisa Banes, 65, died after sustaining injuries when she was hit by an electric skateboard.
She was known for her role in "Gone Girl".
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Ned Beatty, an actor who starred in movies like "Deliverance" and "Superman," died Sunday, June 13, aged 83, of "natural causes," said Deborah Miller, talent manager for Shelter Entertainment Group.
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Rapper Lil Loaded, whose real name is Dashawn Robertson, died at age 20 in an apparent suicide case, his attorney informed CNN on June 1.
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Paul Mooney, actor and comedian from 'Bamboozled' and 'Chappelle's Show,' died of a heart attack on Wednesday, May 19, in Oakland, California.
I was 79 years old
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Actor Charles Grodin, star of 'Midnight Run', 'The Heartbreak Kid' and the dog movies 'Beethoven', died at his home in Connecticut, died Tuesday May 18 after battling cancer, according to his son.
He was 86 years old.
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Colt Brennan, the former quarterback and star of the University of Hawaii, died at age 37 in May.
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Former stock car driver Eric McClure has died at age 42, NASCAR announced Sunday, May 2.
No cause of death has been provided.
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Ray Reyes, a former member of the musical group Menudo, died on April 30 (Credit: Raúl Reyes / Facebook)
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Astronaut Michael Collins died of cancer late on April 28.
He was 90 years old.
Collins was known as "the loneliest man in history," and was the Apollo 11 command module pilot orbiting Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they walked on the lunar surface for the first time in 1969. (Credit: Getty Images )
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Celebrated fashion designer Alber Elbaz, perhaps best known for his work on Yves Saint Laurent and Lanvin, has died of COVID-19 at age 59, luxury fashion company Richemont reported Sunday, April 25.
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Walter Mondale, vice president during the Jimmy Carter administration and a 1984 Democratic presidential candidate, died at the age of 93 on April 19 (Credit: Paul J. Richards / AFP / Getty Images)
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British actress Helen McCrory, known for her appearances on the hit television show Peaky Blinders and the Harry Potter film series, died on April 16 at age 52, "after a heroic battle with cancer."
McCrory "passed away peacefully at home surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family."
(Credit: Gavan / Getty Images)
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Bernard Madoff, whose name became synonymous with financial fraud, died on April 14, 2021 while serving a 150-year sentence in federal prison.
He was 82 years old.
Madoff was the mastermind behind a $ 20 billion Ponzi scheme (a pyramid scheme), the largest financial fraud in history.
(Credit: Mario Tama / Getty Images)
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The rapper DMX died on April 9, 2021 after being put on life support during his final days.
He was 50 years old.
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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died on April 9 at the age of 99.
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British actor Paul Ritter, a versatile performer known for lighting up the screen and the stage, died in April at age 54 after battling a brain tumor.
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Jessica Walter, an actress remembered for her roles in the series "Arrested Development" and "Archer," passed away on March 25 at her home in New York City.
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Actor George Segal died at the age of 87 after complications during surgery, his wife announced in a statement on Tuesday, March 23.
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Comedian Ricardo González, recognized for his character as the clown Cepillín, died on March 8 at the age of 75.
(Credit: @cepillintv)
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Jahmil French, an actor best known for his role as Dave Turner on the Canadian series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," died at the age of 28, according to his agent, Gabrielle Kachman, on March 2.
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Reggae music pioneer Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston has died at the age of 73, Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports said in a statement on March 2.
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Iconic radio host Rush Limbaugh died on February 17, 2021 at age 70.
For decades he used his position as the king of talk radio to shape the politics of both the Republican Party and the nation.
He passed away after a battle with cancer.
(Credit: Drew Angerer / Getty Images)
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Former Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa Bejarano, who ruled the country from January 2000 to January 2003, died on February 16 at the age of 83.
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On February 15, Dominican composer and music producer Johnny Pacheco died in New York.
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Leopoldo Jacinto Luque, a former forward for the Argentine soccer team, died on February 15.
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The former president of Argentina Carlos Menem died on Sunday, February 14, as confirmed by his daughter Zulema Menem.
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Renowned jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea has passed away, according to a statement posted on February 11 on the musician's website.
He was 79 years old.
Chick Corea died of "a rare form of cancer" that was recently discovered, according to the statement.
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Larry Flynt, the founder of Hustler magazine, died on February 10.
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Mary Wilson, one of the founders of "The Supremes," the most successful Motown group of the 1960s, has died at the age of 76, her publicist told CNN on February 9.
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Veteran ESPN reporter Pedro Gómez died "unexpectedly" in February at the age of 58.
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Former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, best known for defeating Muhammad Ali in 1978, died at age 67 on February 5.
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Actor Christopher Plummer died at the age of 91 on February 5, 2021.
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On February 1, Dustin Diamond, Screech on 'Saved by the Bell', died at age 44.
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Grammy-nominated experimental pop artist and producer Sophie Xeon, known publicly as SOPHIE, died in a "terrible accident" on January 30, according to a statement from her record label.
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The Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine, best known for the iconic opening riff of the English rock band's arrangement "The House of the Rising Sun," has died at the age of 77.
The band's record label, ABKCO Music, announced Valentine's death in a statement on Friday, January 29.
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Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson died on Thursday, January 28, her longtime manager, Larry Thompson, confirmed to CNN.
He was 96 years old.
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Actress Cloris Leachman died on Wednesday, January 27, of natural causes in Encinitas, California, according to a statement from her representatives.
He was 94 years old.
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Larry King died at the age of 87 on January 23.
He hosted "Larry King Live" on CNN for over 25 years.
(Credit: Rich Fury / Getty Images)
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Famous Major League Baseball player Henry L. "Hank" Aaron died on January 22, 2021. He was 86 years old.
The baseball player was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 after an illustrious MLB career that was noted for his 755 home runs.
Aaron's cause of death was not immediately revealed.
But on January 5, Aaron tweeted a photo of himself saying that he was proud to have received the covid-19 vaccine.
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Harry Brant, the son of model Stephanie Seymour and businessman Peter Brant, died of an accidental overdose, his family said in a statement to CNN on January 19.
I was 24 years old.
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Don Sutton, the former Major League Baseball pitcher and Hall of Famer who played with five teams in 23 seasons, died on January 18.
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Music producer Phil Spector passed away at age 80 on January 16.
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Siegfried Fischbacher, a member of the illusionist duo Siegfried & Roy, died on January 14 at the age of 81.
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Tommy Lasorda, the legendary Dodgers manager who spent seven decades with the organization, died on January 7, 2021. He was 93 years old.
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Actress Tanya Roberts died at 65 on the night of January 4, 2021. Her death had been reported prematurely hours earlier, after her longtime publicist Mike Pingel reported it.
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Albert Roux, the renowned French chef and restaurateur, died aged 85 on January 4, 2021. Roux, who lived in the UK, "is credited with starting London's culinary revolution with the opening of Le Gavroche in 1967, "says a statement.
(Credit: Steve Welsh / Getty Images for Andy Murray Live)
