Michael K. Williams, ‘The Wire’ Actor, Dies at 54

“The Wire’’ actor Michael K. Williams was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse Monday afternoon, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

Williams, 54, was discovered unconscious in the dining room of his luxury Williamsburg pad with what appeared to be heroin on the kitchen table, sources said. 

Police at the scene. Williams died of a suspected overdose, police sources said.

The acclaimed actor’s nephew found him a little before 2 p.m., and someone called cops to the address at 440 Kent Ave., saying there was a man there who was “unresponsive” and “feels cold,” sources said.

Williams was pronounced dead by authorities at 2:12 p.m., sources said — adding that it appeared the TV star had fatally OD’d.

 “No foul play indicated,” a police source said. “No forced entry, the apartment was in order.”

A man sat sobbing alone at a table outside Williams’ building talking into his cell phone Monday afternoon.  

“I found the body,” the inconsolable man said into his phone, shaking, with tears streaming down his face.

Williams’ longtime rep confirmed the actor’s death in a statement.

“It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams,” spokeswoman Marianna Shafran told The Hollywood Reporter. “They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss.”

The city Medical Examiner’s Office was at Williams’ building Monday afternoon, and eight NYPD cops, including at least two supervisors, were outside.

The Flatbush native — currently a 2021 Emmy Award nominee as best supporting actor for “Lovecraft Country” — was famous for his role as Omar Little in the gritty TV series “The Wire’’ and as Chalky White in “Boardwalk Empire.’’

“When I came through those doors, I was broken. … This was, I would say, around the … third season of ‘The Wire,’ ” Williams said.

“I was on drugs. … I was in jeopardy of destroying everything I had worked so hard for, and I came in those doors, and I met a man who had never even heard of ‘The Wire,’ much less watched it,” he said, referring to the pastor.

“I wrote my full name down — Michael Kenneth Williams — and in the office, [the pastor] turns around, and he says, ‘So what do you want to be called, man?’  I said, ‘Well, you know, my name is Michael, but I could do Mike.’ He says, ‘Why does everybody say, ‘Omar, Omar’s in trouble?’ ” And I was like, ‘Oh, this dude is clueless [about the show],’ ” Williams said.

 

Source:  New York Post