As a producer on “Boardwalk Empire,” Scorsese would remember the actor later, casting him as fellow gangster Chalky White opposite Steve Buscemi. “Give him whichever role he wants!” Marty told the casting director. Soon after, the actor impressed Martin Scorsese during an audition for the underrated “ Bringing Out the Dead,” cycling through three different emotional roles consecutively. He earned his debut movie role opposite Mickey Rourke and the late Tupac Shakur in 1996's "Bullet," after ‘Pac saw a picture of Williams’ newly scarred visage (a trademark earned on his 25 th birthday) and thought “he looks tough enough to play my little brother.” Never mind that Williams was older a movie career was born. Williams said he never forgot that, and it inspired him to continuously pay forward the kindness he received. But the streets knew, and those streets tended to one of their own. When Williams revealed his name was Mike, the pastor asked “Who the hell is Omar?” He had no idea. “Omar needs help,” everyone kept telling the reverend. In a 2012 interview, Williams talked about a low point with drugs in Newark, New Jersey, where some people brought him to a well-known pastor who mentored and assisted people in crisis. For those entrenched in the life that shaped Omar Little, this level of candor invited the character into their hearts and minds. His descriptions merge his real-life struggles with his art, and he explains how that art provided a necessary outlet to deal with those issues. In this must-watch Vanity Fair video, he leans into how important it is have the type of representation he puts onscreen. The loss is even more painful if one considers how candid and brutally honest Michael Kenneth Williams was with his audience. We can look down the road and imagine what could have been, and what never will be. That’s why his sudden and unexpected transition from this life on Septemhurts so much. He went from back-up dancer to five-time Emmy nominee, never once betraying his own personal truth and methodology. Williams created at least two icons, adding “Boardwalk Empire”’s Chalky White to his wall of fame. Creating one iconic character is enough to solidify a career and to sear a bit of legend into one’s legacy. Everyone has actors they look forward to seeing, if only for the fleetest of moments, and Williams more than earned that anticipation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |