Most people know Michael K. Williams from “The Greatest Show Ever,” aka The Wire. During the show’s five-season run, Williams stole the show as Omar Little, Baltimore’s Robin Hood stick-up man known for robbing street-level drug dealers while adhering to a strict moral code and altogether badass demeanor. He’s also recognized for another equally badass role as Chalky White on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, playing a racketeer who became leader of the African-American community in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.
It’s fitting that Williams is often cast as strong-willed tough guys who go against the grain. From Omar Little’s own form of justice to Chalky White’s rise, Williams simulates his on-screen characters and their beliefs in his own life. With the nation’s eyes turning to Baltimore—a city where the corrupt day-to-day life was firstly exposed and popularized on The Wire, and following a year where police brutality issues are finally coming to light—Williams has consistently voiced his opinion and made it clear: his main focus is giving back to the community life that raised him. For instance, Williams is ACLU Ambassador for Ending Mass Incarceration, in addition to running his own non-profit, Making Kids Win, which develops kids’ community centers for stimulating creative growth.
Studio One Eighty Nine’s Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson (also Williams’ co-star in Erykah Badu’s Western They Die By Dawn) caught up with the actor to discuss paying it forward and keeping hope alive during a time when the country needs it most.
Check out our other interviews embodying Studio One Eighty Nine’s motto “Boa me na me mwoa wo,” where Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah talk with people making a difference.
Shop all Studio One Eighty Nine women’s and men’s
ROSARIO DAWSON: We know that there are people in our lives who helped us change our course, people who maybe saw something that we didn’t see in ourselves, and people we allowed to help us. Who is that someone who helped you on your path to success?
MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS: For me, a person that I allowed to help me was Lou Gossett, Jr. Lou came into my life through a job and we immediately connected on several levels as father-and-son, as friends, and as my big brother. I had hit a snag on a personal level and he was very equipped to help me deal with it. It took our friendship to another level and I’m totally grateful for having him in my life, to be able to call him my big brother.
ABRIMA ERWIAH: That’s dope. At a recent conference Studio One Eighty Nine was a part of, a woman said to me, “When you have a mentor, they share their experiences with you. Even th
It’s fitting that Williams is often cast as strong-willed tough guys who go against the grain. From Omar Little’s own form of justice to Chalky White’s rise, Williams simulates his on-screen characters and their beliefs in his own life. With the nation’s eyes turning to Baltimore—a city where the corrupt day-to-day life was firstly exposed and popularized on The Wire, and following a year where police brutality issues are finally coming to light—Williams has consistently voiced his opinion and made it clear: his main focus is giving back to the community life that raised him. For instance, Williams is ACLU Ambassador for Ending Mass Incarceration, in addition to running his own non-profit, Making Kids Win, which develops kids’ community centers for stimulating creative growth.
Studio One Eighty Nine’s Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson (also Williams’ co-star in Erykah Badu’s Western They Die By Dawn) caught up with the actor to discuss paying it forward and keeping hope alive during a time when the country needs it most.
Check out our other interviews embodying Studio One Eighty Nine’s motto “Boa me na me mwoa wo,” where Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah talk with people making a difference.
Shop all Studio One Eighty Nine women’s and men’s
ROSARIO DAWSON: We know that there are people in our lives who helped us change our course, people who maybe saw something that we didn’t see in ourselves, and people we allowed to help us. Who is that someone who helped you on your path to success?
MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS: For me, a person that I allowed to help me was Lou Gossett, Jr. Lou came into my life through a job and we immediately connected on several levels as father-and-son, as friends, and as my big brother. I had hit a snag on a personal level and he was very equipped to help me deal with it. It took our friendship to another level and I’m totally grateful for having him in my life, to be able to call him my big brother.
ABRIMA ERWIAH: That’s dope. At a recent conference Studio One Eighty Nine was a part of, a woman said to me, “When you have a mentor, they share their experiences with you. Even th