I bet you remember the first time you laid eyes on Michael K. Williams, the first time you saw him in something. And I’m not even talking about the whole performance, but literally your first moment seeing him, listening to him. He forced you to stop what you were doing, to pay close attention. He forced you to watch him in an alert and active way, rather than just as a passive receiver. He commanded that kind of attention just sitting there – before he even spoke a line.
That kind of inherent quiet power can’t be taught or learned. You have to just have it.
Like most people, I first saw him in The Wire, and when he first appeared – his first scene – before he even said anything, before anything even happened, I was riveted. He was authentic, that’s for DAMN sure, whatever you were seeing came from a real place, but it was more than authenticity. Plenty of people are authentic but they don’t have the kind of self-possession and charisma he had, the kind of soft quiet power that draws people into his orbit, makes them lean in closer to hear what he was saying.
Addiction robs us of so many geniuses. This is truly a crushing loss.
I’m so upset about this horrible, unexpected loss. Truly awful. A magnetic man. In his screen presence so much intelligence, watchfulness, thought, pain, humanity, fearlessness, understanding. I love his quiet. I’m really gonna miss him. Thank you for posting this memory and that incredible photo.
Jessie – it’s SO upsetting. It reminds me of when PSH died – the sense of loss, of someone being ripped away – of the demon of addiction – it’s just horrific. Just his presence brought such authenticity – but along with that he brought talent. I love his quiet too – I still think of that very first scene I saw him in The Wire. He is SO quiet, SO still. That takes such a powerful and confident person. Really so sad about this.