About 150 family and friends, including two dozen actors and celebrities, attended the funeral services for Michael K. Williams Tuesday morning in downtown Harrisburg.
The hour-long service for the star of HBO’s series “The Wire,” and “Boardwalk Empire,” started at 10 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral on North Front Street and Pine Street.
The program included a formal church service with hymns and communion as well as remembrances by close family and friends.
Singer and actress Queen Latifah attended, as well as the creator of The Wire, David Simon, and several Wire co-stars including Andre Royo, who portrayed “Bubbles,” Jamie Hector, who portrayed “Marlo” and Felicia Pearson, who portrayed “Snoop.” Williams portrayed “Omar Little,” a shotgun-slinging stickup man who targeted drug dealers. The series was filmed in Baltimore and was applauded for its authenticity in showing people’s lives in impoverished neighborhoods and serious problems within police departments.
Actor Malik Yoba from Boardwalk Empire attended the service and others who could not attend, sent flowers, including actress Gabrielle Union and singer Mariah Carey.
The service was live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page.
Williams, 54, was found dead in his Brooklyn home Sept. 6. His body was brought to Harrisburg for his funeral as his mother has lived in the area for more than 20 years.
Harrisburg will be his final resting place, a city he visited often when he came to see his beloved mother and to make appearances for charities and youth programs.
“He came to Harrisburg as often as he could,” said Jonathan Branam, the funeral home manager for Hooper Memorial Home, which handled Williams’ services. “He loved his mama. And he was a man of the community. Harrisburg embraced him as an adopted son.”
Williams often teamed up for events to help residents with another local celebrity, Chris Franklin, of the Harlem Globetrotters, who grew up in the capital city. Franklin served as a pallbearer on Tuesday, along with Michael Giovanni, a Harrisburg actor who was discovered by Williams while working at a shoe store the Harrisburg mall.
After helping Williams in the store, Williams helped Giovanni get on The Wire, kicking off an acting career for Giovanni, according to WITF. Giovanni then appeared on Tyler Perry’s House of Pain and Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.
“The way that art saved my life,” Williams was quoted as saying, “for me, the only way for me to say ‘thank you’ is by making sure I pass the torch.
“Is by making sure the foundation that I am standing on is strong enough to support the next person that will stand on these two shoulders.”
The quote was printed on William’s funeral program, which detailed his lengthy career achievements and five Emmy nominations.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct the spelling of Jonathan Branam’s name.
READ MORE:
Suspected killer shows up at Harrisburg police chief’s front door and other tales of surrenders
Ad Choices