Michael Kenneth Williams stars as Chalky White in the first and second seasons. He won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Omar Little in the HBO series The Wire and also appeared in the big screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Biography
Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York. After getting in some trouble as a youth he enrolled at the National Black Theatre in New York City. He later got a job at a pharmaceutical company. Inspired by Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, he left school and quit his job against the wishes of his family to pursue a career as a dancer. During a year in which he was intermittently homeless, Williams "pounded the pavement," visiting record labels and dance studios looking for work. He eventually got a job as a background dancer on a music tour, which led to more work appearing as a dancer in videos and on tours, as well as some modeling work.
Williams is well known for his large facial scar, which he received after a confrontation between his friends and another group in Brooklyn on his 25th birthday. His assailants sliced him with razor blades. He eventually embraced the scar, citing Seal’s marred face as an inspiration. His scar became his signature and earned him photo shoots with noted photographers like David LaChapelle.
In 1999 Williams had a role in the Martin Scorsese film Bringing Out the Dead as a drug dealer. In 2003 he played drug dealer Ray Ray in The Sopranos third season episode "Army of One". The episode was co-written by Boardwalk Empire co-executive producer Lawrence Konner. Boardwalk Empire show runner Terence Winter was a producer on The Sopranos when Williams appeared in the show.
Appearances
| Season one appearances | |||
| Boardwalk Empire | The Ivory Tower | Broadway Limited | Anastasia |
| Nights in Ballygran | Family Limitation | Home | Hold Me in Paradise |
| Belle Femme | The Emerald City | Paris Green | A Return to Normalcy |
| Season two appearances | |||
| 21 | Ourselves Alone | A Dangerous Maid | What Does the Bee Do? |
| Gimcrack & Bunkum | The Age of Reason | Peg of Old | Two Boats and a Lifeguard |
| Battle of the Century | Georgia Peaches | Under God's Power She Flourishes | To the Lost |
| Season three appearances | |||
| "Resolution" | "Spaghetti and Coffee" | "Bone for Tuna" | "Blue Bell Boy" |
| "You'd Be Surprised" | "Ging Gang Goolie" | "Sunday Best" | "The Pony" |
| "The Milkmaid's Lot" | "A Man, A Plan..." | "Two Imposters" | "Margate Sands" |
Credits
Star
| Season 3 credits | |||
| "Resolution" | "Spaghetti and Coffee" | "Bone for Tuna" | "Blue Bell Boy" |
| "You'd Be Surprised" | "Ging Gang Goolie" | "Sunday Best" | "The Pony" |
| "The Milkmaid's Lot" | "A Man, A Plan..." | "Two Imposters" | "Margate Sands" |