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Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o has mourned the death of Hollywood actor Michael K. Williams who was found in his New York apartment on Monday, September 6, 2021.
In a post on her social media platforms, Lupita said that William is one of the people who helped her feel welcome in Hollywood.
"I met Michael K. Williams right after my audition for 12 Years A Slave. I sat next to him at dinner that night and was drawn to his kind eyes that were a direct contrast to the menacing scar that sat between them. He was soft spoken and warm.
"When I asked him about his scar - a question I quickly realized he must have gotten a million times, he gave me a smile and a light chuckle and said, 'I have lived many lives, Lupita.' And then he graciously told me the story, like he had never told it before," she recounted.
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Williams was spending his birthday at a bar in Queens when a man slashed his face with a razor blade during a fight, resulting in the permanent scar on his face that changed his acting career.
Lupita recalled that Michael went out of his way to make her feel like she belonged at a time when she really needed that reassurance.
After meeting, the two exchanged contacts, and stayed in touch ever since. They had plans of working together in the future but the hand of death robbed them of the opportunity.
"I did watch his work. And he mine. We sent each other encouraging messages from afar. I am glad he knew how much I valued him. I live on with the comfort of knowing he valued me too. As devastating as his passing is, I will continue to hold him warmly in heart," she eulogised.
New York Times reported that Williams' body was found about 2 p.m., according to the New York City Police Department.
The death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose, the police said, and the city’s medical examiner was to determine the cause.
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The Flatbush native was famous for his role as Omar Little in the gritty TV series “The Wire’’ and as Chalky White in “Boardwalk Empire.’’
He landed his first acting opportunity when he caught the eye of the rapper Tupac Shakur.
He received five Emmy Award nominations, including one this year, for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, for his portrayal of Montrose Freeman on the HBO show “Lovecraft Country.”