Beloved actor Michael K. Williams passed away Monday, September 6 at just 54 years old.
Hollywood is mourning the four-time Emmy-nominated actor best known for his role as Omar Little in The Wire and Chalky White in Boardwalk Empire.
He most recently starred as Montrose Freedman in Lovecraft Country. The late actor is nominated for an Emmy at the ceremony set to take place later in September.
He also starred in several movies, including 12 Years a Slave, The Purge: Anarchy, and Body Brokers.
It’s never HollyGOOD news when the world loses a talent like Michael K. Williams, but we’re grateful that he lives on through his movies, TV shows, and stories shared by fellow Hollywooders.
Let’s take a look at some of the tributes paid by Hollywood celebs to Michael K. Williams.
The Wire co-star Lance Reddick describes Michael K. Williams as “one of the…most genuine, giving and courageous souls”
Lance Reddick took to Twitter to share a video of him reacting to the news, saying he was “One of the kindest, gentlest, most genuine, giving and courageous souls I’ve ever met.”
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
In the almost 3-minute video, he talks about the person behind the camera, recalling some of the conversations they had over the years. Lance says that Michael was always willing to help him and wanted to offer more insight into who Michael was, besides being an actor.
He also shares a throwback photo of him and Michael K. Williams at the season one premiere of The Wire.
From the first season premiere screening of The Wire at The Senator Theater in Baltimore. Rest in peace, my brother. #MichaelKWilliams pic.twitter.com/85Twz7Hhtk
— Lance Reddick (@lancereddick) September 7, 2021
Lance writes, “From the first season premiere screening of The Wire at The Senator Theater in Baltimore. Rest in peace, my brother.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan says “We lost one of our best, most talented”
Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan took to Twitter to write, “Goddamn it. We lost one of our best, most talented. RIP #MichaelKWilliams. Breaks my heart.”
Goddamn it. We lost one of our best, most talented. RIP #MichaelKWilliams. Breaks my heart. pic.twitter.com/K2ex1vhA88
— Jeffrey Dean Morgan (@JDMorgan) September 6, 2021
Hollywood’s Saul Williams will always see Michael K. Williams as a brother
Saul Williams, a singer-songwriter, also took to Twitter to remember and share memories of him and Williams.
He writes, “For years Wikipedia listed Michael K. Williams as my brother. Neither one of us chose to correct it, instead we took it at its word. ‘We’re brothers, yo.’ He shared poems with me. We broke bread & kicked it whenever we could. A deep & sincere connection. A beautiful spirit.”
For years Wikipedia listed Michael K. Williams as my brother. Neither one of us chose to correct it, instead we took it at its word. “We’re brothers, yo.” He shared poems with me. We broke bread & kicked it whenever we could. A deep & sincere connection. A beautiful spirit. ??
— Saul Williams (@SaulWilliams) September 6, 2021
He shares another post, this time with a video from Michael’s performance back in 2014.
“Yeah this was a beautiful day in BK,” Saul recalls. “He had a whole collection of poems in the voice of Omar he had been working on & asked to share one as an intro this night.”
Yeah this was a beautiful day in BK. He had a whole collection of poems in the voice of Omar he had been working on & asked to share one as an intro this night. @afropunk 2014 https://t.co/k9QMvFISTI
— Saul Williams (@SaulWilliams) September 6, 2021
Pauley Perrette shares a throwback
Pauley Perrette, a fellow Hollywood actor known for NCIS, shared a throwback photo of the two of them.
My beloved brother. I am… I love you. We were like kids when we met. In our 20’s, Dancing around NYC. And then our talks as “grown ups”. Forever and forever in my heart. I love you. #MichaelKWilliams pic.twitter.com/9t9hvIz4AH
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) September 6, 2021
“My beloved brother. I am… I love you,” she says. We were like kids when we met. In our 20’s, Dancing around NYC. And then our talks as ‘grown ups’. Forever and forever in my heart. I love you.”
Vivica A. Fox remembers M.K. Williams with a photo collage
Vivica A. Fox took to Twitter to share a collage of photos of the two of them along with a sweet message to Williams.
Rest Well King! So saddened about the passing of #MichaelKWilliams He was an AMAZING man,friend & AWESOME actor! U will be so missed! Thanks for ya gifts King! #RestInPeace #RestInParadise #RESTINPOWER #GONETOOSOON ?????? pic.twitter.com/0Xdgua8Ljz
— Vivica A. Fox (@MsVivicaFox) September 7, 2021
“Rest Well King! So saddened about the passing of #MichaelKWilliams He was an AMAZING man, friend & AWESOME actor! U will be so missed! Thanks for ya gifts King! #RestInPeace #RestInParadise #RESTINPOWER #GONETOOSOON”
More Hollywood celebs pay tribute to Michael K. Williams
Mandy Moore, Shay Mitchell, and Sarah Hyland all shared photos of Michael K Williams to their Instagram stories.
Mandy Moore posted 3 photos and wrote “Just an absolute genius. What an unbelievable loss.”
Sarah Hyland shared a post that included one of Michael’s quotes that reads “the most successful people reach the top not because they are free of limitations, but because they act in spite of their limitations.”
Shay Mitchell shared a photo of Williams and added the red broken heart emoji.
B.J. Britt shares a powerful and inspiring video
One Tree Hill’s B.J. Britt shares a video of Michael speaking to a group of boys and offering them words of wisdom.
Rest in peace brother???✊?@bkbmg #MichaelKWilliams pic.twitter.com/SbJ2EnWRME
— BJ Britt (@iambjbritt) September 7, 2021
Our thoughts go out to all who knew and loved Michael K. Williams, including fans at home. Let’s all make sure to take care of each other.
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