Michael Kenneth Williams
Biography
Michael Kenneth Williams was an American actor born on November 22, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, and died on September 6, 2021, at the age of 54. He was raised in the Vanderveer Projects in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, and attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School before enrolling at the National Black Theatre in New York City. Williams played the role of Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire from 2002 to 2008 and played Albert Chalky White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire from 2010 to 2014. Throughout his career, he accumulated 105 known acting credits in movies and television shows.
Career overview
Michael Kenneth Williams was an American actor born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, on November 11, 1966. Raised in the Vanderveer Projects in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, he attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School and later enrolled at the National Black Theatre in New York City. Williams had a prolific acting career documented with 105 known credits on the Movie Database.
Among his prominent television roles, Williams played Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire from 2002 to 2008. Following that role, he portrayed Albert Chalky White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire from 2010 to 2014. Throughout his career, his work spanned multiple television and film projects as an actor.
Williams passed away on September 6, 2021, at the age of 54. His extensive body of work on television established his presence as a notable American actor, particularly recognized for his memorable characters in acclaimed HBO drama series.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Michael Kenneth Williams.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
110 titles- Fame and Fentanyl (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- The Brown Dog (2024) as Nobody
- Surrounded (2023) as Will Clay
- Breaking (2022) as Eli Bernard
- Body Brokers (2021) as Wood
- Dark Side of the 90's (2021) as Self
- Lines (2021)
- Beastie Boys Story (2020) as Self
- Lovecraft Country (2020) as Montrose Freeman
- Critical Thinking (2020) as Mr. Roundtree
- Arkansas (2020) as Almond
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- When They See Us (2019) as Bobby McCray
- Motherless Brooklyn (2019) as Trumpet Man
- The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019) as Kabede Bimro
- Rematch (2019) as Failure
- The Public (2019) as Jackson
- SuperFly (2018) as Scatter
- La route de la soif (2018) as Self
- Drop the Mic (2017) as Self
- When We Rise (2017) as Ken Jones
- Shelter (2017) Executive Producer
- The Night Of (2016) as Freddy Knight
- Ghostbusters (2016) as Agent Hawkins
- Assassin's Creed (2016) as Moussa
- Triple 9 (2016) as Sweet Pea
- Hap and Leonard (2016) as Leonard Pine
- Anesthesia (2016) as Jeffrey
- When the Bough Breaks (2016) as Roland White
- Black Market (2016) as Self - Host
- Black Market (2016) Executive Producer
- The Land (2016) as Pops
- Black Market: Dispatches (2016) as Himself - Host
- The Spoils Before Dying (2015) as Rock Banyon
- Time Out of Mind (2015) as Mike
- Captive (2015) as Detective John Chestnut
- Bessie (2015) as Jack Gee
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014) as Richard Sackler
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014) as Carmelo
- RoboCop (2014) as Jack Lewis
- Inherent Vice (2014) as Tariq Khalil
- The Gambler (2014) as Neville Baraka
- Kill the Messenger (2014) as Ricky Ross
- That Awkward Moment (2014) as Omar Little
- Rand University (2014) as Narrator
- The Final Shot: A Farewell to Boardwalk Empire (2014) as Self
- Bro (2014) Executive Producer
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) as Robert
- Snitch (2013) as Malik
- VICE (2013) as Self - Correspondent
- Lucas Bros. Moving Co. (2013) as Satan
- LUV (2013) as Detective Holloway
- They Die by Dawn (2013) as Nat Love
- Picasso Baby (2013) as Self
- Jim Norton: American Degenerate (2013) as Himself
- The Devil Goes Down (2013) as The Devil
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- Snow on tha Bluff (2012) Executive Producer
- Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-33 (2012) as Sgt. James
- You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You (2012) as Ad
- The Wire: The Musical (2012) as Omar Little
- Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 23-33 (2012) as Sgt. James
- The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2011) as Sonnyboy
- The Cookout 2 (2011) as Cable Guy Mike
- Boardwalk Empire (2010) as Albert 'Chalky' White
- Detroit 1-8-7 (2010) as Clarence Warrenton
- Brooklyn's Finest (2010) as Red
- Life During Wartime (2010) as Allen
- Community (2009) as Professor Marshall Kane
- The Road (2009) as The Thief
- Wonderful World (2009) as Ibu
- The Philanthropist (2009)
- A Day in the Life (2009) as Killer Mike
- Tell-Tale (2009) as Acherton
- The Incredible Hulk (2008) as Harlem Bystander
- Miracle at St. Anna (2008) as Tucker
- Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club (2008) as Tone
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) as Devin
- I Think I Love My Wife (2007) as Teddy
- The Wire Odyssey (2007) as Self
- The Wire: The Last Word (2007) as Self
- Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22 (2007) as Sgt. James
- Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-22 (2007) as James
- Six Degrees (2006) as Michael
- The Bondage (2006) as Willie
- Mercenary for Justice (2006) as Samuel Kay
- Killa Season (2006) as Mike
- Lackawanna Blues (2005) as Jimmy
- Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-12 (2005) as James
- Trapped in the Closet (2005)
- Boston Legal (2004) as Randall Kirk
- Doing Hard Time (2004) as Curtis Craig aka: Durty Curt From Detroit
- Barbershops Uncut: East Coast (2004) as Self
- The Wire (2002) as Omar Little
- Alias (2001) as Roberts
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Ronnie
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Laurent / Paul
- Broke Even (2000) as Kenny
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Double-D Gamble
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as John Victor Bodine
- The Sopranos (1999) as Ray Ray
- Third Watch (1999) as Cop One
- Bringing Out the Dead (1999) as Drug Dealer
- Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99 (1999) as (segment "Secret")
- The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998) as Gang Member #2 (uncredited)
- Bullet (1996) as High Top
- MugShot (1996) as Rumor
- Law & Order (1990) as Charles Cole
- Law & Order (1990) as Delmore Walton
- Law & Order (1990) as Marcus Cole
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Michael Kenneth Williams best known for?
Michael Kenneth Williams is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Beastie Boys Story (2020), Lovecraft Country (2020), Arkansas (2020), Tamron Hall (2019).
When and where was Michael Kenneth Williams born?
Michael Kenneth Williams was born on November 22, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on September 6, 2021.
How many credits does Michael Kenneth Williams have?
Michael Kenneth Williams has accumulated over 110 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1990 to 2025.
What is Michael Kenneth Williams's background in cinema and television?
Michael Kenneth Williams was an American actor born on November 22, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, and died on September 6, 2021, at the age of 54. He was raised in the Vanderveer Projects in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, and attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School before enrolli...