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Michael K. Williams on his reputation as one of the most compelling tough guys on screen

For actor Michael K. Williams, the role of Omar Little on The Wire was life-changing. It paved the way for similarly astounding performances on Boardwalk Empire and The Night Of. He joined Tom Power in the q studio to reflect on his career.
CBC Radio ·
Michael K. Williams with host Tom Power in the q studio in Toronto, Ont. (Vivian Rashotte/CBC)

Originally published on Nov. 15, 2018

It's hard to think of any TV series that has inspired a more devoted following than The Wire. The epic crime saga is set apart by its unbelievably complex cast of characters, such as Omar Little, the morally ambiguous and openly gay Baltimore gangster. 

For actor Michael K. Williams, the role of Little was life-changing. It paved the way for similarly astounding performances on Boardwalk Empire and The Night Of, and gained him a reputation as one of the most compelling tough guys on screen. 

Williams is currently in Toronto for the launch of a new online streaming service called Crave, which will soon be airing all of those series. He joined Tom Power in the q studio to talk about defining himself as an actor and redefining himself as an activist and advocate.

Listen to the full conversation with Michael K. Williams near the top of this page. 

— Produced by ​Catherine Stockhausen

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