Michael K. Williams, who starred as Omar on “The Wire”, dead at 54
American actor Michael K. Williams was found dead on Monday in his Brooklyn home.
The 54-year-old reportedly succumbed to a drug overdose, according to police authorities who told the New York Post.
Drug paraphernalia was apparently found in Mr Williams' apartment.
"There was no outside intervention. There was no break-in, the place was fine," a police source told the Post.
Well known for his role as Omar Little on "The Wire" and Chalky White on "Boardwalk Empire", Michael K. Williams was nominated for a current Emmy Award for his supporting role in the series "Lovecraft Country".
Indeed, Michael had opened up publicly on several occasions about his drug use, including when he was starring in "The Wire" as Omar Little, the man who robbed drug dealers.
Fellow actors and filmmakers have been paying tribute on social media.
"The depth of my love for this brother, can only be matched by the depth of my pain learning of his loss," — The Wire co-star Wendell Pierce tweeted.
"A immensely talented man with the ability to give voice to the human condition portraying the lives of those whose humanity is seldom elevated until he sings their truth," — Pierce added.
"If he was in a scene he was the best thing about it. Period," — wrote actor Edward Norton, who worked with Williams on the 2019 film Motherless Brooklyn.