The most unexpected deaths are those that occur in what is considered premature, when people have not yet had the opportunity to truly grow old; and those that transcend public opinion are those for whose fame or, at least, a familiar face has become recognizable by many people in the world. The actors of big projects have it easy, and this is what happens to the New Yorker Michael Kenneth Williams (1966-2021), recently passed away at age fifty-four.
Perhaps his name does not locate him a large part of moviegoers, but if his face is put before their eyes, with that large scar that crosses it from the forehead, it will surely ring a bell. And the most fans will identify you as who played the unforgettable Omar Little in The Wire (David Simon, 2002-2008), one of the most important series in the history of television.
The most visible characters of Michael Kenneth Williams
Every time Michael Kenneth Williams appears on the screen as that dangerous and at the same time suggestive criminal, who makes his way through the streets of Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, the narrative interest rises several integers in the episodes of The Wire. But this is not the only job where this brooklyn artist has excelled during his career, which began with a small role in the film Bullet (Julien Temple, 1996), starring Mickey Rourke and Adrien Brody.
Later, it was a camel in To the limit (Martin Scorsese, 1999), the Ray Ray from the chapter “Army of One” (3×13) by The Sopranos (David Chase, 1999-2007), Roberts in three episodes of Alias (JJ Abrams, 2001-2006), the Reggie Dunham of the chapter “The Box” (5×09) of CSI: New York (Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue and Carol Mendelsohn, 2004-2013), Devin in the feature film Goodbye little one goodbye (Ben Affleck, 2007) or the Harlem Bystander of The incredible Hulk (Louis Leterrier, 2008).
But Michael Kenneth Williams also played Red in Lords of brooklyn, to a thief of Road (Antoine Fuqua, John Hillcoat, 2009), to Professor Marshall Kane in three episodes of Community (Dan Harmon, 2009-2015), a Chalky White in Boardwalk empire (Terence Winter, 2010-2014), another of his fundamental roles; to the Oscar-winning Robert Twelve years of slavery (Steve McQueen, 2013), to Jack Lewis in the remake from RoboCop, to the Carmel of Anachy: Night of the Beasts or to Tariq Khalil in Pure vice (José Padilha, James DeMonaco, Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014).
(In process…)
