Michael K. Williams' Cause Of Death Revealed

The following article contains mentions of suicide and addiction.

Michael K. Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn home on September 6, according to the New York Post. The actor, who was best known for his role in "The Wire," was discovered in his living room, "face-down and unresponsive" by a relative who went over to his house after not hearing from Williams in a few days. That relative called 911 and, once emergency personnel arrived, Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time, authorities found drug paraphernalia inside the home, and an overdose was suspected. However, Williams' cause of death could not be confirmed until an autopsy and toxicology report were complete. Williams was only 54-years-old.

"It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss," a rep for Williams told People magazine after his death was confirmed. On September 24, the medical examiner was able to confirm William's cause of death. Keep reading to find out more.

The New York City medical examiner confirmed that Michael K. Williams died following an accidental drug overdose, according to the New York Post. His official cause of death was listed as "acute intoxication." A toxicology report confirmed that Williams had fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. The New York Post's initial report about Williams' death confirmed that there was a substance that "appeared to be heroin" seen on William's kitchen table.

In an interview with Men's Health magazine back in October 2020, Williams revealed that he started using drugs when he was a teenager. When he was 17, he attempted suicide by taking a bunch of pills. "[I] woke up to my stomach being pumped," he told the outlet. Williams opened up about his addiction in a 2017 interview with The New York Times. He admitted that the roles that he had taken on over the years had caused him to sort of relive the trauma of his past. "The characters that mean the most to me are the ones that damn near kill me. It's a sacrifice I've chosen to make," he said.

In a now-chilling interview with NJ.com from 2012, Michael K. Williams talked about his decision to get sober. "I was playing with fire. It was just a matter of time before I got caught and my business ended up on the cover of a tabloid or I went to jail or, worse, I ended up dead. When I look back on it now, I don't know how I didn't end up in a body bag. When I look back on it now, I don't know how I didn't end up in a body bag," Williams told the outlet.

Williams went on to say that he made the decision to get sober because he "got so sick and tired of this charade." "I was lonely in that part of my life. I was broke, broken and beat up. Exhausted. Empty. I finally said, 'I can't do this no more.' I didn't want to end up dead," he told NJ.com. In 2016, Williams opened up to WAMU's Fresh Air, and revealed that he found the help that he needed by turning to the church. He started attending services at the Christian Love Baptist Church, and met with a pastor who helped him through one of the darkest times in his life. 

In February 2021, Williams told Tamron Hall (via YouTube) that he had started going to therapy after filming HBO's "Lovecraft Country." It's unclear when he started using drugs again.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).