Michael K. Williams died suddenly this year. By all accounts from the people who knew him, the world lost a tremendous person. For those of us who did not know Michael but admired his work, we lost one of the greatest actors in the history of television. Williams played two absolutely iconic characters in The Wire's Omar Little and Boardwalk Empire's Chalky White. Williams was a graceful actor and was brilliant in his nuance. He always brought a level of humanity to his characters that made them fully realized people. 2021 is a year to celebrate Williams' wonderful performances and to mourn the loss of one of the greats.
- Patrick Allen
VP of Content
What emotion defined this fandom this year?
Sadness but celebration. Williams had struggled with addiction, and those struggles ultimately led to his death this year. Though it was sad to say goodbye to such a talented artist, Williams' work and legacy were celebrated everywhere from the stage at the Emmy Awards to a Baltimore Ravens game.
How this fandom made the world a better place
As an actor, Williams often played men that did horrible things, but he always graced them with a dose of humanity. His well-rounded characters challenged viewers to look beyond their own preconceived ideas of “good guys“ and “bad guys“ to not only see the person underneath but also to consider how those characters ended up becoming who they became. Williams' art will live on in his characters.