One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Michael K. Williams Remembered By Sister, Compton City Councilmember Michelle Chambers
Michael K. Williams attends Netflix's FYSEE event for "When They See Us" at Netflix FYSEE at Raleigh Studios on June 09, 2019.
(
David Livingston
/
Getty Images North America
)
The sudden death of actor Michael K. Williams in his Brooklyn apartment is being felt not just in Hollywood but in Compton, where his sister, Michelle Chambers, serves on the city council.
Chambers released a statement on Tuesday saying, "Our family has been shaken to the core of the loss of our Mike ... I will miss my brother, but I know he will continue to watch over me and our family in heaven as he did on earth."
Williams, 54, was a renowned character actor, best known for his role as Omar Little on the HBO series The Wire. His death was reported on Monday.
Many people in and out of Hollywood paid tribute to Williams after the news broke of his death, including Lance Reddick and Tray Chaney, his costars on The Wire:
Michael K. Williams: One of the kindest, gentlest, most genuine, giving and courageous souls I've ever met. Rest in peace, my brother. #MichaelKWilliams pic.twitter.com/tqjAnGhQDY
— Lance Reddick (@lancereddick) September 7, 2021
I can’t…I’m crushed. 💔 no words. I love you bro. RIP to the legend Michael K Williams aka one of the dopest Actors/Brother in the world. #Omar #TheWIRE FOR LIFE. I’m off the grid for a while hard to process this one. I love you bro smh damn 🤦🏿♂️ 😥😥😥 pic.twitter.com/UNK3F94opM
— Tray Chaney (@traychaney) September 6, 2021
The New York Times reports that the official cause has yet to be determined, but is being investigated as a possible drug overdose.
Sponsored message
In 2018, Williams told our newsroom's arts and culture show, The Frame, that he avoided the fate of others around him in Brooklyn by concentrating in the arts.
I'm ready to change the narrative in my community.
— Michael K. Williams in a 2018 interview
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
