KEY POINTS

  • Michael K. Williams, famous for his role as Omar Little on "The Wire," had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death
  • The actor was found dead inside his Brooklyn apartment with police saying it could be a potential drug overdose
  • Williams appeared in various films and TV series, including "Law & Order" and "The Sopranos"

Michael K. Williams was an actor most famous for his performance on HBO’s critically-acclaimed show “The Wire” where he played the role of Omar Little. The television star was found dead inside his home in Brooklyn, New York on Monday. He was 54.

Williams had a long-running career as an actor and appeared in various TV series and movies, including “Boardwalk Empire,” “Law & Order” and “The Sopranos.” His nearly 30-year career has allowed the actor to amass an estimated net worth of $5 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

The actor’s first official film was the 1996 movie “Bullet” where he played the character High Top. Williams continued to portray mostly thug-like characters in the following years, appearing in several movies and shows. He also voiced the character Archie Baldwin in the “NBA 2K21” video game.

His face had a large, iconic scar that he got during a bar fight in New York. At the time, Williams was celebrating his 25th birthday at a bar in Queens when he decided to go out and get some fresh air. He then saw a group of unknown men surrounding two of his friends, who looked like they were going to get attacked. The actor tried to flee with his colleagues as one man continued to follow him. The man later took a razor from his mouth and slashed Williams’ face, the New York Post reported.

The actor’s role as Omar Little on “The Wire” was considered to be one of the most memorable characters on the show. But before he was cast as the iconic character, Williams revealed he was “lost” in debt and continued to borrow money from his family to get by, as per the New York Times.

Police are investigating Williams’ death as a potential drug overdose. The actor did come clean about his struggles with drug use in the past. “Around the second — more like [the] third season of ‘The Wire.’ I was on drugs, and I was in jeopardy of destroying everything that I had worked so hard for,” the actor said of his addiction in a 2016 interview with NPR.

Williams’ body was discovered at around 2 p.m. in his Brooklyn apartment’s living room by his nephew. “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for ... privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss,” a representative for Williams told People.

Michael Kenneth Williams
Omar Comin' REUTERS
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