Actor Michael K. Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment on Monday, New York Post reports .
Williams’ cousin found the actor in the living room of his Kent Avenue penthouse. Drug paraphernalia were found in the apartment, which may indicate a possible overdose, newspaper sources said.
The actor has spoken openly about his drug use in the past. In a 2012 interview, Williams said “it was a miracle he hadn’t died yet.”
“I was playing with fire. I was doing drugs in really scary places with very scary people. It was only a matter of time before I got caught and my story made the cover of some magazine. Or worse, that I would end up in jail or die. Looking back on that now, I don’t really understand that I survived.”
Actor starred in The Wire and Boardwalk Empire
In an interview with The Guardian he uses his own life experiences to give his characters more depth. “I can use my work to build understanding and compassion for people who are stereotyped or even rejected in everyday life,” Williams said.
The actor is best known for his role as Omar Little in the TV series The Wire , in which he plays a man who robs drug dealers. During this time, Williams used drugs, as he is said to have become so engrossed in the role in the crime series.
“No one wakes up and thinks: I’m going to be a drug dealer,” said the American. “There’s a series of events taking place that make this seem like the only way out for anyone. As a black man who grew up in a slum, I’ve experienced some of those events myself.”
Most recently, he starred in the films 12 Years a Slave and Assassin’s Creed , as well as appeared in series such as Boardwalk Empire, Community and When They See Us.
Williams has won many awards for his acting. He was nominated a total of five times for an Emmy Award.