Nathan Barksdale has died at age 54 in a North Carolina federal prison. Barksdale was a Baltimore gangster who inspired several characters on HBO’s hit TV series The Wire.
Barksdale was the inspiration for two characters on The Wire — Avon Barksdale and Preston “Bodie” Broadus (played by J.D. Williams, pictured above).
Barksdale’s reputation as a heroin dealer in the 1980s nearly cost him his life. He was shot 20 times by a rival drug dealer. He survived his injuries, but his right leg was amputated below the knee.
Barksdale turned his life around and went to work for the city Health Department lecturing kids on non-violence when The Wire‘s producer came calling.
Barksdale was arrested in 2014 during in a DEA drug sting investigating members of the notorious Black Guerrilla Family gang.
“I did some good,” Barksdale said at his sentencing. “I’d like to think I saved some lives.”
He was serving a 4 year sentence in federal prison when he died.
RIP!
He was up in Butner? Thats rough as hell. RIP.
At first glance, I thought dude uptop passed. Then I saw age 54 ?…..RIP
RIP
It’s so strange I never saw the wire and that was my brother’s fav show
I thought The Wire was based in part on Melvin Williams’ life. Maybe another character? I dunno. But RIP Mr. Barksdale.
A picture of Barksdale would’ve been nice LOL.
The Black Panthers documentary airs tonight on PBS. I will watch but will tred lightly. You know they will try to paint them in a negative manner.
This post is sad…. maybe this won’t be deleted but uhmmm…
Has anybody watched this video? Dee-1 – Sallie Mae Back – *sings – I finished paying Sallie Mae back, Mae back…* https://youtu.be/JqbXQa05Z6c I may record my own version when I get some things taken care of.
I thought so too!
PBS has been taking a lot of ring wing money lately ,they aren’t what they once were but they do make some decent tv shows. We should be in the habit of fact checking because the media can’t be trusted especially nowadays
Exactly ??
What is with all these thirsty azz men posting pics in their underwear showing off their ?or lack thereof ????
I was about to say he must’ve found the fountain of youth. RIP Mr. Barksdale. ??
Is it going down in YOUR DM??? LOL!
Didn’t Avon Barksdale die a couple or a few months ago? What a tough time for the Barksdale family. RIP.
LMAO!!!! Fortunately no. I was sick to my stomach when I saw the Game’s disgusting azz. I almost went blind when I saw Benzino ???
Man that was my show, Omar, Brodie, Stringer, Avon Barksdale, Marlo, Prop Joe, slim, Poot, Bubbles, Weebey, Snoop, Man I could go on and on… RIP dude…
Girl I know you need CPR after Benzino ugh lol
Jayceooooooooon I’se plead the fif…
How did he die???
I was confused about this post, so I looked Nathan Barksdale up. He is dead, and Melvin Williams, who was also a drug dealer who inspired the character Avon Barksdale, died in December 2015. I knew something was off about this post.
A brief excerpt from a Rolling Stone article re: Nathan Barksdale:
“Melvin Williams, another former Baltimore drug kingpin also credited with inspiring Avon Barksdale, died last December. “Little Melvin” even appeared intermittently on the final three seasons of The Wire as The Deacon, a church figure who helps a former inmate, Cutty, get back on his feet after a long prison sentence.”
If he can prove that he has a neck, I’ll be impressed ??
He’s not bad looking, just thirsty as heyul
Umm out of respect Imma not say. But undisclosed causes per the article at the MEDICAL part of Butner Federal NC prison. He wasn’t segregated bc he was an amputee. And he was an ex junkie
Lol right
You won’t then lol
Ah, okay. Me and Summer both wrote down thread that we thought Melvin Williams was the inspiration for the show. Thanks for the info!
No prob. I posted a comment about the Barksdale family taking a dual loss in recent months, but I didn’t think that was correct, so I deleted it.
The full Rolling Stone article was crystal clear. Then again, Rolling Stone.
Uhn-huh…sounds like the same reason my godmother is no longer here. Her trifling azz husband was a high-functioning junkie in the 80s. White collar professional by day, heroin addict at night. Bastard got the bug and died and then she died a year later. 20+ years later and I still miss her.
Hugs
Sads babe. But yes.
Hugs ya.
? :hugs:
Oh ok thank you
Only bc I live here and bff auntie was at one time a prison nurse there. Sads.
Sandra acting like michael Scott from the office delivering news all crazy. I thought Bodie was dead with that pic
New post
Wood Harris played Barksdale on The Wire.
may he RIP…..loved the show too