Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Michael K. Williams‘ final Instagram post was a video clip of comedian/actor Tracy Morgan passionately urging his fans “Don’t cry for me,” as he recalled his fatal limousine accident in 2014.

Williams, 54, captioned the post, “I love u brother! @tracymorgan #realOG.”

Just six days later, on Sept. 6, Williams’ nephew found his body in his penthouse apartment in Brooklyn.

Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Police suspect the actor died of a heroin overdose due to the drug paraphernalia scattered around his body.

Twitter remembered Williams’ most memorable TV characters, including the homosexual stick-up man, Omar Little, in HBO’s The Wire, who robbed Baltimore drug dealers to give back to the poor.

“I don’t get to assimilate into anything other than the black experience,” he said in a September 2020 interview.

“For me to be given the opportunity to be a storyteller and to tell a narrative of people in my community that look like me, I wear that as a badge of honor — and a huge responsibility. I’m grateful for the gift of art — if nothing else, just for that.”

In the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire, Williams played Albert “Chalky” White, the sensitive leader of a crime syndicate in Atlantic City during prohibition.
 

YouTube video

 
Earlier this year, Williams was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Montrose Freeman in HBO’s Lovecraft Country.

Williams went to therapy to address his struggles with drug addiction after wrapping his Emmy nominated role.

Colleagues remembered Williams’ most memorable roles in emotional and poignant Twitter messages on Monday.

Many users posted a video clip of The Wire co-star Wendell Williams earnestly describing Williams as one of the greatest actors in television history.

Datpiff.com shared a video of Williams paying tribute to rapper DMX, who died of a drug overdose in April at age 50.

Actor Freddie Gibbs recalled losing his first big role to Williams.

Bevy Smith remembered her friend as a sensitive man who “fought hard for his humanity”.

And actress Vivica A. Fox referred to Williams as “an AMAZING man, friend & AWESOME actor!”