Michael K. Williams bio: Scar, wife, net worth, Lovecraft Country
Michael K Williams is an American actor best known for his remarkable role as Oscar on The Wire, which ran for five seasons on HBO. His portrayal of a gay, shotgun-toting “hood Robin Hood”, who stole from dealers to give to the poor brought him international attention and he was even Barack Obama’s favourite character. But, the role also drove him to begin experimenting with drugs, and eventually got him evicted from his Brooklyn housing project. Today, Williams has his life back on track, and he is featured in the new HBO series Lovecraft Country.
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Williams is an actor, philanthropist, and an icon. The celebrity has gone through a lot in his life, but today, he is one of the most celebrated entertainers on the face of the planet. His biography will show you why.
Michael K. Williams profile summary
- Birth name: Michael Kenneth Williams
- Date of birth: November 22, 1966
- Birthplace: Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- Height: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
- Weight: 76 kg
- Zodiac sign: Scorpio
- Eye colour: Dark Brown
- Occupation: Actor, Voiceover Artist, Producer
- Father: Booker T. Williams
- Paternal grandfather: Primus/Primas Williams
- Paternal grandmother: Anna J. Murrell/Murell
- Ethnicity: Black
- Years active: 1996 to present
- Trademark: Michael K Williams scar
Background and early life
Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York as the youngest of 10 children. His father, Booker T. Williams, was an African-American from South Carolina while his mother was from Nassau.
Michael attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School and later enrolled in the National Black Theatre in New York City.
The actor was molested during his adolescence, and this incident scarred him emotionally and resulted in a troubled teenage life. He had low self-esteem and often sought help and consolation from the church.
Source: Getty Images
After getting in some trouble as a youth, he enrolled in school and got a job at a pharmaceutical company.
Inspired by Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, he left school and quit his job against the wishes of his family to pursue a career as a dancer. During a year in which he was intermittently homeless, Williams "pounded the pavement," visiting record labels and dance studios looking for work.
He eventually got a job as a background dancer on a music tour, which led to more work appearing as a dancer in videos and on tours, as well as some modelling work
Michael K Williams dancing career
Williams began his career as a performer by dancing professionally at age 22. After numerous appearances in music videos and as a background dancer on concert tours for Madonna and George Michael, he decided to seriously pursue acting, having been encouraged to do so by rapper Tupac Shakur.
As a dancer, Michael appeared in more than 50 music videos.
Acting career
The celebrity participated in several productions of the La MaMA Experimental Theatre, the prestigious National Black Theatre Company, and the Theater for a New Generation directed by Mel Williams.
He is best known for his remarkable work as Omar on The Wire, which earned him high praise and made Omar one of television's most memorable characters.
Today, he features as Montrose Freeman in the new HBO drama Lovecraft Country.
To date, the actor has over 100 acting credits to his name.
Source: Getty Images
Michael K. Williams TV shows
The actor has appeared in the following TV shows:
- Vital Signs (filming) - Negativity
- Lovecraft Country (2020) - Montrose Freeman
- F Is for Family (2017-2020) - Smoky / Smokey / Smoky Greenwood
- When They See Us (2019) - Bobby McCray
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2019) - Richard Sackler
- The Guest Book (2018) - Gabe
- Hap and Leonard (2016-2018) - Leonard Pine
- When We Rise (2017) - Ken Jones
- The Night Of (2016) - Freddy Knight
- The Spoils Before Dying (2015) - Rock Banyon
- Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014) - Chalky White
- Lucas Bros Moving Co (2014) - Satan / Nigerian Dude
- High School USA! (2013) - Lucius
- Walk This Way (2013) - Rev. Daniels
- Community (2011-2012) - Professor Marshall Kane
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2011)
- Taking on Tyson (2011) - Narrator
- Detroit 1-8-7 (2011) - Clarence Warrenton
- Behind the Steve (2010)
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2005-2010) - Laurent / Paul / Ronnie
- Law & Order (1997-2009) - Charles Cole / Marcus Cole / Delmore Walton
- The Philanthropist (2009) - Dax Vahagn
- CSI: NY (2008) - Reggie Dunham
- Human Giant (2008) - Chris Barksdale
- The Wire (2002-2008) - Omar Little
- The Kill Point (2007) - Quincy
- Six Degrees (2006-2007) - Michael
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2003-2006) - Victor Bodine / Double-D Gamble
- Boston Legal (2005) - Randall Kirk
- Alias (2005) - Roberts
- Third Watch (2002) - Cop #1
- The Sopranos (2001) - Ray Ray
- Deadline (2001) - Darin
Michael K Williams movies
He has also featured in these movies:
- Body Brokers (post-production) - Wood
- Critical Thinking (2020) - Mr. Roundtree
- Arkansas (2020) - Almond
- About The People (2019) - The Senator
- Father (2019) - Grandfather
- Motherless Brooklyn (2019) - Trumpet Man
- The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019) - Kabede Bimro
- SuperFly (2018) - Scatter
- The Public (2018) - Jackson
- Above the Noise (2017)
- Assassin's Creed (2016) - Moussa
- Against the Wall (2016) - Man
- When the Bough Breaks (2016) - Roland White
- Ghostbusters (2016) - Agent Hawkins
- Triple 9 (2016) - Sweet Pea
- The Land (2016) - Pops
- Captive (2015) - Lt. John Chestnut
- Bessie (2015) - Jack Gee
- Marilyn Manson: The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles (2015)
- Anesthesia (2015) - Jeffrey
- Ghostface Killah: Love Don't Live Here No More (2014)
- The Gambler (2014) - Neville Baraka
- Inherent Vice (2014) - Tariq Khalil
- Kill the Messenger (2014) - Ricky Ross
- Time Out of Mind (2014) - Mike
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014) - Carmelo
- RoboCop (2014) - Jack Lewis
- They Die by Dawn (2013) - Nat Love
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) - Robert
- Snitch (2013) - Malik
- Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 23-33 (2012) - James
- You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You (2012) - Ad
- LUV (2012) - Detective Holloway
- The Cookout 2 (2011) - Cable Guy Mike
- Life During Wartime (2009) - Allen
- The Road (2009) - Thief
- A Day in the Life (2009) - Killer Mike
- Addicts (2009) - Lil J
- A Kiss of Chaos (2009) - Demetrius
- The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2009) - Sonnyboy
- Wonderful World (2009) - Ibu
- Tell Tale (2009) - Acherton
- Brooklyn's Finest (2009) - Red
- Miracle at St. Anna (2008) - Tucker (Scared Soldier)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008) - Harlem Bystander
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) - Devin
- I Think I Love My Wife (2007) - Teddy
- 5up 2down (2006) - Terance
- The Bondage (2006) - Willie
- Lackawanna Blues (2005) - Jimmy
- Broke Even (2000) - Kenny
- Bringing Out the Dead (1999) - Drug Dealer
- MugShot (1996) - Rumor
- Bullet (1996) - High Top
Source: Getty Images
Awards
The actor has 12 wins and 24 nominations to his name. He has won the following awards:
- AAFCA TV Honors (2019) - Best Ensemble for When They See Us
- Black Film Critics Circle Awards (2013) - Best Ensemble for 12 Years a Slave
- Black Reel Awards for Television (2019) - Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series for When They See Us
- Film Independent Spirit Awards (2015) -Robert Altman Award for Inherent Vice
- Gotham Awards (2017) - Made in New York Award
- NAMIC Vision Awards (2015, 2013) - Best Performance - Drama for Boardwalk Empire
- Online Film & Television Association (2019) - Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series for When They See Us (2019)
- San Diego Black Film Festival (2014) - Best Short Film for The Devil Goes Down
- Screen Actors Guild Awards (2012) - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Boardwalk Empire
- Southern Shorts Awards (2016) - Award of Excellence for Acting in The Devil Goes Down
Michael K Williams net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Michael has a net worth of $5 Million.
Michael Kenneth Williams scar: What happened to Michael K face?
One of the celebrity’s trademarks is his signature Michael K. Williams scar.
His large facial scar is the result of a bar fight he got involved in on his 25th birthday. He got into a barroom brawl in which an adversary cut his face and neck with a razor. One cut came close to his jugular vein and nearly killed him.
According to Williams, the scar helped to launch his acting career. Within months of the incident, photographers were stopping him on the street, asking him to pose. He began getting more calls to do music videos, which led to some minor work playing a thug in TV shows.
Source: Getty Images
Relationship
In 2019, actress Tasha Smith shared a photo of herself and Williams snuggling up to each other while calling her boyfriend “the love of my life.”
She went on gushing about Williams as she wrote in the caption,
“Nothing makes me happier!!!!! The love of my life @bkbmg this man gives me goose bumps!!!!!
Although Tasha is not (yet) Michael K. Williams wife, the two seem to be happy together.
Is Michael K Williams gay?
There were some Michael K. Williams gay rumours until the birth of his son, Elijah Williams, from one of his girlfriends.
There are no available details about who the mother of Elijah Williams Michael K. Williams son is.
Source: Getty Images
Ethnicity
The actor is of African-American descent on his father’s side and has African-Bahamian roots on his mother’s side.
Michael K. Williams is one of the greatest actors of his generation. Not only is he talented, but he also oozes some sort of charisma that endears him to many.
READ ALSO: Joaquina Kalukango bio: Age, parents, boyfriend, Lovecraft Country
Legit.ng recently reported about the life of Joaquina Kalukango, an actress known for Lovecraft Country (2020), Instinct (2018), and One Night in Miami (2020).
The celebrity is also a theatre actress. Her Broadway credits include The Color Purple, Holler If Ya Hear Me, and Godspell. Off-Broadway, Kalukango has appeared in Our Lady of Kibeho (Signature), Antony and Cleopatra (The Public Theater and Royal Shakespeare Company), Emotional Creature (Signature and Berkeley Rep), Hurt Village (Signature), and Rent (NWS).
Source: Legit.ng
