Michael K. Williams, best known for starring in The Wire was found dead on Monday, aged 54.
The star’s death was confirmed by his rep Marianna Shafran.
‘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,’ she said in a statement to Metro.co.uk.
According to the The New York Post, he was discovered by his nephew in the living room of his penthouse.
His cause of death has not yet been confirmed amid an ongoing investigation.
As well as featuring in his infamous role as Omar Little in The Wire, Williams also appeared in Boardwalk Empire as Chalky White.
Williams also starred in HBO telefilm biopic Bessie and had supporting roles in other film and TV shows such as The Road, 12 Years A Slave, When They See Us and The Night Of.
The news of his death comes just days after it was announced he was set to play Doc Broadus in an upcoming George Foreman Biopic.
The actor, who was five time Emmy nominated, had won the role as Foreman’s trainer and mentor who took him to legendary status.
Most recently, he played Montrose Freeman in Lovecraft Country, which earned him his fourth Emmy nomination.
Williams is also set to star alongside Letitia Wright upcoming feature film Bron Studios’ Surrounded.
The much-loved actor started his career aged 22 as a dancer in New York before going on to pursue acting.
He went on to appear in more than 50 music videos before making a feature film debut in 1996 move Bullet, where he played High Top.
His website states it was late rapper Tupac Shakur who discovered him and decided to cast him in the film.
Tributes have come in from the acting world including his The Wire cast mates such as Wendell Pierce andDomenick Lombardozzi.
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