(CNN)Following Michael K. Williams' abrupt passing, his friends, chap actors and directors are paying tribute to the talented star.
"The Wire" creator David Simon wrote successful connected Twitter that helium was "gutted." Williams played Omar connected the classical HBO series.
"Michael was a good antheral and a uncommon endowment and connected our travel unneurotic helium ever deserved the champion words. And contiguous those words won't come," Simon wrote.
Wendell Pierce, who starred with Williams successful "The Wire" arsenic Detective Bunk Moreland, wrote, "The extent of my emotion for this brother, tin lone beryllium matched by the extent of my symptom learning of his loss. A immensely talented antheral with the quality to springiness dependable to the quality information portraying the lives of those whose humanity is seldom elevated until helium sings their truth. If you don't know, you amended inquire somebody. His sanction was Michael K. Williams. He shared with maine his concealed fears past stepped retired into his acting with existent courage, acting successful the look of fear, not successful the lack of it. It took maine years to larn what Michael had successful abundance."
He continued: "He was arrogant of the creator helium had become, asking for my proposal agelong aft helium had surpassed immoderate incite I could person shared, Always truthful, ne'er inauthentic. The kindest of persons. Like 2 mischievous kids, we would laughter & gag whenever we would meet. Like Baltimore years ago, THE WIRE brought america unneurotic and immortalized Omar & Bunk successful that 'scene' connected a parkland bench. But for america we aimed to instrumentality that infinitesimal successful clip unneurotic and accidental thing astir Black men. Our conflict with ourselves, internally, and each other. For maine & Mike we had thing but respect. So to you, my member Mike, determination is simply a tiny comfortableness that I know, you knew however overmuch we loved you."
Williams was recovered dormant astatine his location successful Brooklyn connected Monday. He was 54.
Mariah Carey wrote connected Instagram, "A beauteous soul, a beauteous person, I'll miss you always. Thank you for blessing america with your talent."
Comedian Jay Pharoah wrote, "Lord my bosom hurts connected this one😰, RIP @bkbmg , I can't judge I'm typing this conscionable saw him a fewer weeks ago. Did my archetypal movie w/him...one of the nicest, talented, and mosy humble folks you could ever conscionable the antheral cooked for america erstwhile we're staying successful Miami astatine the Mutiny..all astir bully antheral and specified a divers histrion it was beauteous to witnesser your prima rise..sleep good homie."
Director Ava DuVernay, who worked with Williams connected "When They See Us," wrote a loving tribute connected Instagram.
"I retrieve the times you'd travel connected acceptable adjacent erstwhile you weren't connected the telephone sheet. Just to stock a hug. To cheer america on. Strolling successful similar the King that you were. For conscionable a flash to springiness immoderate emotion -- past gone. I retrieve nights retired successful NYC that summertime and however you were truthful loved by the folks successful your city. I retrieve our enactment connected the work, ever connected and communicating and excavating and gathering due to the fact that you were truthful unfastened and acceptable to springiness your all. I retrieve you sending maine a representation of yourself arsenic a young antheral and sharing with maine that the boys whose communicative we were telling were a reflection of you -- and we were going to get it right," Duvernay wrote.
Spike Lee posted a representation of the 2 astatine a basketbvall game, writing, "Mike And I At Da Garden Cheering On Da Orange And Blue. Photo By James Devaney. Whew Lawd,Dis Is A Tough Day-1st We Lose The Great French Actor JEAN PAUL BELMONDO And Now My Brother MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS. Our Brother Passed Away Today In His Home,Da People's Republic Of Brooklyn. I'm Shook. Drinking A Bottle Of Italian Red Wine-Brunello Di Montalcino By Myself. Our Greats Are Leaving Us Left And Right. GOD BLESS."
Giancarlo Esposito wrote on Instagram, "I person ne'er met a much loving, caring, beauteous quality being. A existent person and thespian. I volition everlastingly miss you my beloved brother. Godspeed."
Viola Davis wrote, "No! So sad. Man bash I privation this were a antithetic ending. Rest well."
"Saturday Night Live" prima Leslie Jones worked with Williams connected 2016's "Ghostbusters," saying, "He was truthful bully to maine erstwhile we did ghostbusters and we bonded connected galore levels!! Damn I was conscionable reasoning the adjacent clip I saw him I was gonna archer him however dope of an histrion helium is. Damn y'all we mislaid a bully one. Rest successful emotion my brother."
Isiah Whitlock Jr. wrote, "Shocked and saddened by the decease of Michael K Williams. One of the nicest brothers connected the satellite with the biggest heart. An astonishing histrion and soul. May you RIP. God bless."
Aisha Tyler wrote, "Michael K Williams was a beautiful, passionate, expansive soul. I felt truthful fortunate to person known him, and we were each truthful fortunate to person enjoyed his unthinkable talent. He burned truthful precise bright. Rest successful power, MKW. You volition everlastingly beryllium The King."
Niecy Nash, who worked with Williams connected "When They See Us," took to social media to write, "You were a beauteous soul, a benignant tone & a bully time... a endowment beyond measure. Thank you for the galore times we traded vigor and you made maine consciousness similar family. You near america excessively soon... Praying for your loved ones."
Jesse Collins, who worked with Williams connected the DMX tribute astatine the 2021 BET Awards, wrote: "Honored to enactment with you connected the DMX tribute. Thank u for each that u gave us. REST IN POWER!."
James Gunn wrote, "Michael K Williams, successful summation to being 1 of the astir talented actors around, was besides 1 of the kindest, sweetest, astir gentle souls I've ever met. This is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with each those who loved him."