Michael K. Williams Loses Emmy For ‘Lovecraft Country,’ An Award His Friends Say He ‘Doesn’t Need’
Michael K. Williams earned an Emmy nomination for his riveting performance in the HBO series Lovecraft Country. He portrayed Montrose Freeman, the father of Atticus (Jonathan Majors), in the supernatural drama. For the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, the late actor was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Emmy category. Taking home the award would be a huge honor for the versatile actor. But, some of his close friends think otherwise.
Michael K. Williams became one of the most respected actors in Hollywood
Williams was born and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. His love for dance drove him to become a backup dancer, dancing alongside Kym Sims, George Michael, and Madonna. The Brooklyn native performed in the music video “100% Pure Love” by Crystal Waters. Later, Williams landed his first acting role in the 1996 film Bullet, opposite Tupac Shakur.
The actor is best known for his signature scar, which propelled his acting career to new heights. During a birthday celebration in Queens, a man cut his face with a razor blade in a fight. With the scar, directors wanted him to play more “thug roles,” he revealed in a 2014 interview with NPR.
One pivotal role was in The Wire, where he played an openly gay male named Omar Little. The character became a breakout role for Williams, cementing his status in Hollywood.
In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, the actor talked about The Wire’s explosive impact on the Black community and how portraying Omar contributed to the story. “I saw a lot of homophobia in my community,” he explained. “Omar definitely helped soften the blow of homophobia in my community, and it opened up a dialogue, definitely.”
Since then, he has played memorable roles in When We Rise, The Night Of, When They See Us, Lovecraft Country, and more.
On Sept. 6, Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment from a possible drug overdose. He was 54 years old.
The ‘Lovecraft County’ actor lost an award he ‘doesn’t need’
Before his death, the actor earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in Lovecraft Country. Williams received a nomination for the Best Supporting Actor category.
Although Williams was the projected winner for the award, some of his close friends and family believe he doesn’t need the Emmy. A collective acknowledged the Emmy would be a great honor, but winning the gold statue is unnecessary.
Alvin “Supa” Washington argues the actor built a legacy that transcends the Emmy nomination. “Seeing him win the Emmy would be so beautiful,” he told the New York Post. “Winning it when he was alive would be sweet. This will be bittersweet, but, nevertheless, it will top off his legacy.”
An old friend named LaBril McFadden agreed with the statement, saying, “Of course I will be rooting for him, but at the end of the day, he doesn’t need the award. His heart is his biggest trophy.”
Ultimately, Williams lost the Emmy award to The Crown actor Tobias Menzies.
How to watch ‘Lovecraft Country’ Season 1
After the first season of Lovecraft Country concluded, many fans were patiently waiting for the second season’s arrival. Unfortunately, HBO canceled the supernatural series after one season.
In July 2021, the network released a statement that read, “We will not be moving forward with the second season of Lovecraft Country,” the network said, per Deadline. “We are grateful for the dedication and artistry of the gifted cast and crew and to Misha Green, who crafted this groundbreaking series. And to the fans, thank you for joining us on this journey.”
HBO didn’t give a reason behind the cancellation, which left many fans devastated. Following its release, the 10-episode series received positive reviews from viewers and critics.
The first season of Lovecraft Country is available to stream on HBO Max.
