Award Wins NominationsEmmy AwardsScreen Actors Guild AwardsCritics Choice AwardsIndependent Spirit Awards
Michael Kenneth Williams was an American actor known for his roles in film and television and theatre.
He is most known for his performances as Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire from 2002 to 2008 and Albert "Chalky" White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire from 2010 to 2014. He earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in the HBO television biopic Bessie (2015), the Netflix drama series When They See Us (2019), and the HBO projects The Night Of (2016) and Lovecraft Country (2020). He has a recurring role in the sitcom Community from 2011 to 2012. He is also known for his supporting roles in a number of films including Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone (2006), John Hillcoat's The Road (2009), Steve McQueen's period drama 12 Years a Slave (2013), Paul Thomas Anderson's drama Inherent Vice (2014), and Edward Norton's Motherless Brooklyn (2019).
Williams received four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for 12 Years a Slave (2013), Boardwalk Empire (2014, 2015), and Lovecraft Country (2021). He also received a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance Lovecraft Country. He also received the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award along with the ensemble cast of Inherent Vice (2014).
Major associations Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.Primetime Emmy Awards 2015 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Bessie 2017 The Night Of 2018 Outstanding Informational Series or Special Vice 2019 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie When They See Us 2021 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Lovecraft Country
Screen Actors Guild Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2011 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Boardwalk Empire 2013 Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture 12 Years a Slave 2021 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Lovecraft Country
Critics Choice Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2021 Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Lovecraft Country
Gotham Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2009 Best Ensemble Cast Life During Wartime
Independent Spirit Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2015 Robert Altman Award Inherent Vice
Miscellaneous awards Black Reel Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2014 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture The Gambler 2015 Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Movie The Spoils Before Dying Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series Bessie 2017 The Night Of 2019 When They See Us 2020 Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series Lovecraft Country
NAACP Image Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2007 Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series The Wire 2009 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2014 Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Boardwalk Empire 2016 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Bessie 2021 Lovecraft Country
Satellite Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2015 Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or TV Film Bessie
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