'Boardwalk Empire' Cast Member Michael K. Williams Recalls Dancing for Madonna, Being Scouted by Tupac, and his Journey From Nothing to Omar Little of 'The Wire'
While attending the Blackstar Film Festival in Philadelphia this past weekend, "Boardwalk Empire" star Michael K. Williams opened up about the long journey that led him to his breakout role as Omar Little of "The Wire."
He credited the beginning of his acting career to the infamous scar on his face that he gained from a bar brawl.
"After I got cut in my face some directors wanted me to start acting in music videos and that kind of got the ball rolling," said the actor, who plays Chalky in "Boardwalk Empire."
Before becoming an actor, Williams appeared as a dancer in music videos for iconic artists like Madonna and George Michael.
With eventually twenty to thirty music videos under his belt, Williams caught the attention of the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.
"They were shooting a movie called 'Bullet' in New York and he [Tupac] seen a Polaroid of me," Williams recalled. "He told the director go find me because he liked my look and in his words, he thought I looked 'thugged out enough' to play his little brother."
Following "Bullet," Williams went back to dancing. Additionally, with the help of Mel Williams, his mentor and a Philadelphia native who started the company "Theater in the New Generation," he started dabbling in the off Broadway circuit.
While fellow actors flew out on a whim to Los Angeles for pilot season, Williams was determined to get his break in New York.
"I was like if it is meant to be it is going to happen right here in New York," said Williams. "LA will send for me, that was my attitude."
Around 1998, the former star of "The Wire" booked three major roles. He had an ongoing part on the HBO hit "The Sopranos," a guest starring role on "Law and Order," and a spot in the Martin Scorsese flick "Bringing Out the Dead" starring Nicholas Cage.
At this point, Williams became a bit overly confident about his career.
"I had all three of those back to back and I got a little cocky," he said. "I packed my bags and was like 'LA will be calling me any minute.'"
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. By 1999, Williams recalled the gigs being slim to none.
"I got nothing," said Williams. "No auditions. Nothing was happening and I got real bitter. I got real desperate and I was going into auditions like my life was over if I didn't book 'Thug #3.'"
During his struggle to stay afloat in the industry, Wiliams started helping his mom with the daycare she owned in the Brooklyn projects he grew up in. He credits his mom for teaching him how to run a business.
Although Williams was proud of his mom's success, he admitted to being miserable on the inside and turning to alcohol and drug abuse.
Williams finally had a revelation when one of his episodes of "The Sopranos" came on while getting high with friends in his apartment.
"I had this outer body experience," he said. "'What am I doing with these losers? There is something wrong with this picture. That's me!'"
The experience made him give acting another go. With financial assistance from his mom, Williams reinvented his acting package.
Finally, a fax came into his mom's apartment with a breakdown of the character Omar Little.
"Gangsta, drug dealer, robbing, openly gay...I could work with that," said Williams.
After one taping with the casting director of "The Wire," the rest was history.
Besides the fifth and final season of "Broadwalk Empire," Williams has a lot to look forward to.
Alongside Queen Latifah, Monique, and Mike Epps, Williams has been in Atlanta shooting the "Bessie Smith Story" which should be released next year.
In addition, this year we can see him play Freeway Rick Ross in "Kill the Messenger," a movie telling the true story about how the government allegedly flooding the streets with cocaine to fund the Cold War. Also, anticipate him in the remake of "The Gambler" starring Mark Walberg.
Look out for the premiere of the last season of "Broadwalk Empire" on September 7th.
