The late, great actor Michael K. Williams was always honest, and his honesty shone through in his portrayal of one of the most indelible TV characters of all time. As Omar Little, the openly gay gangster who ruled the Baltimore streets for five seasons of David Simon's "The Wire," Williams brought gravitas and emotion to a role that in lesser hands could have been a misfire. Yet the actor took the intriguing depth that was already on the script page and elevated them, turning Omar into a man as complex as the lore that would eventually surround his season 5 demise.
Williams' memoir, "Scenes From My Life," was published posthumously this summer, and in it the actor wrote at length about the role of Omar. From the pressure he felt as a Black man representing his community, to the inspiration he took from relatives and local figures he grew up around,...
Williams' memoir, "Scenes From My Life," was published posthumously this summer, and in it the actor wrote at length about the role of Omar. From the pressure he felt as a Black man representing his community, to the inspiration he took from relatives and local figures he grew up around,...
- 9/10/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Portraying openly gay stickup man Omar on HBO’s widely acclaimed “The Wire,” Michael K. Williams offered a fresh portrait of masculinity that was considered revolutionary at the time.
But according to the late actor’s memoir, “Scenes of My Life,” Williams pushed “The Wire” to go further in terms of portraying Omar’s intimacy with his boyfriend Brandon Wright (Michael Kevin Darnall).
“In regards to Omar and his lover Brandon, it seemed like everyone was dancing around their intimacy issue,” Williams wrote (via Vulture). “There was lots of touching hair and rubbing lips and things like that. I felt like if we were going to do this, we should go all in. I think the directors were scared, and I said to one of them, ‘You know gay people fuck, right?'”
While Williams, who died of a drug overdose at age 54 last year, did not identify as gay,...
But according to the late actor’s memoir, “Scenes of My Life,” Williams pushed “The Wire” to go further in terms of portraying Omar’s intimacy with his boyfriend Brandon Wright (Michael Kevin Darnall).
“In regards to Omar and his lover Brandon, it seemed like everyone was dancing around their intimacy issue,” Williams wrote (via Vulture). “There was lots of touching hair and rubbing lips and things like that. I felt like if we were going to do this, we should go all in. I think the directors were scared, and I said to one of them, ‘You know gay people fuck, right?'”
While Williams, who died of a drug overdose at age 54 last year, did not identify as gay,...
- 8/26/2022
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Michael K. Williams reflected on his enduring legacy as Omar Little in HBO’s “The Wire” prior to his death in a newly published memoir.
Five-time Emmy nominee Williams died of a drug overdose in September 2021 at age 54. The “Lovecraft Country” and “Boardwalk Empire” actor portrayed gay drug dealer Omar in “The Wire” from 2002 to 2008.
“As for Omar’s homosexuality, it was groundbreaking 20 years ago, and I admit that at first I was scared to play a gay character,” Williams penned in an excerpt from his memoir “Scenes From My Life” co-authored with Jon Sternfeld, via Vulture. “I think my initial fear of Omar’s sexuality came from my upbringing, the community that raised me, and the stubborn stereotypes of gay characters. Once I realized that Omar was non-effeminate, that I didn’t have to talk or walk in a flamboyant way, a lot of that fear drained away. I made Omar my own.
Five-time Emmy nominee Williams died of a drug overdose in September 2021 at age 54. The “Lovecraft Country” and “Boardwalk Empire” actor portrayed gay drug dealer Omar in “The Wire” from 2002 to 2008.
“As for Omar’s homosexuality, it was groundbreaking 20 years ago, and I admit that at first I was scared to play a gay character,” Williams penned in an excerpt from his memoir “Scenes From My Life” co-authored with Jon Sternfeld, via Vulture. “I think my initial fear of Omar’s sexuality came from my upbringing, the community that raised me, and the stubborn stereotypes of gay characters. Once I realized that Omar was non-effeminate, that I didn’t have to talk or walk in a flamboyant way, a lot of that fear drained away. I made Omar my own.
- 8/26/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Lets face it, as television viewers we grow attached to the gay characters that resonate with us on the small screen, and with the actors that bring life to these roles. We also find ourselves growing fond of out-and-proud actors that have opted to play it straight thats why its called acting, people and vice versa.
So when their shows are cancelled or taken off the air before they wear out their welcome (whatever, I still miss Sex and the City on Sunday nights, ok?), it can be a little bit difficult to see them slide into other TV roles easier than Lindsay Lohan checking into another rehab (Im rootin for you, girl).
Alas, sometimes that isnt always the case, which might have you asking yourself, Where are they now? In some cases for these actors, it could be taken as a query of, Where did they disappear to?
But for curiosity's (and manner's) sake,...
So when their shows are cancelled or taken off the air before they wear out their welcome (whatever, I still miss Sex and the City on Sunday nights, ok?), it can be a little bit difficult to see them slide into other TV roles easier than Lindsay Lohan checking into another rehab (Im rootin for you, girl).
Alas, sometimes that isnt always the case, which might have you asking yourself, Where are they now? In some cases for these actors, it could be taken as a query of, Where did they disappear to?
But for curiosity's (and manner's) sake,...
- 2/11/2011
- by Tim Parks
- The Backlot
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