Michael K. Williams, an Emmy-nominated actor known for his roles on Lovecraft Country and The Wire, died earlier this month at age 54. Now the coroner’s office in New York City has released his cause of death.
The beloved actor passed away from an accidental overdose at his Brooklyn penthouse apartment on Sept. 6, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner told USA Today on Friday. Williams had a lethal combination of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine in his system, the coroner’s office said.
Related Story: Michael K. Williams Remembered by ‘The Wire’ Stars
The actor was born in Brooklyn in 1966, and grew up in the East Flatbush neighborhood.
He rose to prominence on The Wire as Omar Little, an openly gay robber who targeted drug dealers. Williams often delivered memorable one-liners like, “You come at the king, you best not miss.” He appeared on the series from 2002 to 2008.
Williams also won praise for his role as Albert “Chalky” White, a powerful African-American gangster, on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire from 2010-2014. The series won a best ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award in 2012.
He most recently appeared in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, and received a 2021 Emmy nomination for his role as Montrose Freeman on the series. Among his other credits were roles in the HBO biopic Bessie, and in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix miniseries When They See Us.
Funeral services were held for Williams in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Sept. 14. According to local news reports, he adopted the city as his second home after his mother moved there.
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