Source: Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty
UPDATED: 4:30 p.m. ET, Sept. 24:
Originally published: Sept. 6
The cause of celebrated actor Michael K. Williams‘ tragic death earlier this month was confirmed on Friday by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office.
Williams’ death, which was ruled an accident, was caused by the lethal combination of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin and cocaine, the New York Post reported.
Williams’ cause of death came nearly two weeks after he was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment on Sept. 6.
Fentanyl, which the Drug Enforcement Administration defines as “a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine,” was immediately suspected since Williams’ death came days after the overdose death of Fruquan Johnson, a Los Angeles-based comedian who died after using cocaine that was laced with fentanyl.
MORE: Michael K. Williams, Actor Who Starred As Omar In ‘The Wire,’ Dies At 54
The day Williams was found dead, people immediately suspected a drug overdose.
The actor’s nephew found him dead in his penthouse in the trendy neighborhood of Williamsburg.
Quoting unnamed sources, the New York Post reported at the time that “Williams was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose” when he was found “with what appeared to be heroin on the kitchen table.”
Fentanyl is also the drug attributed to the death of superstar singer Prince, who died in 2016 after high levels of the powerful opioid were found in his system.
Williams has admitted his past battles with drug addiction.
In 2012, he said he developed a drug habit while filming “The Wire,” a gritty street drama on HBO about drug dealers who sold heroin in Baltimore.
“I was playing with fire,” Williams said at the time. “It was just a matter of time before I got caught and my business ended up on the cover of a tabloid or I went to jail or, worse, I ended up dead. When I look back on it now, I don’t know how I didn’t end up in a body bag.”
Williams added later: “In the end, I was more comfortable with Omar’s skin than my own,” he said while referencing his “The Wire” character, Omar Little, who robbed drug dealers. “That was a problem… I had to stop trying to be Omar and just be Mike.”
Back then, Williams’ drug of choice was cocaine.
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Michael K. Williams, Actor Who Starred As Omar In ‘The Wire,’ Dies At 54
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