A former drug kingpin turned actor, Melvin Williams has died at age 73. His drug story helped inspire the movie, The Wire. Nicknamed “Little Melvin,” Williams once was a powerful force in the Baltimore drug trade in the 1970s and 1980s before he served years in a federal prison and turned away from crime.
His life inspired The Wire creator David Simon, who penned a five-part Baltimore Sun profile of the former drug trafficker in 1987. He is thought to have inspired the character Avon Barksdale, played by Wood Harris on the show The Baltimore Sun reports
Williams was released from prison in 1996, and had a small role on The Wire as The Deacon from 2004-2008.
Melvin Williams was born in 1941 in Baltimore, Maryland. His father worked as a cab driver while his mother worked as a nurse's assistant.
In the 1960s, Williams was a well known gambler and pool player in Baltimore. He gained notoriety in Baltimore for his role in quelling rioting in the city in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr in early April 1968.
By that time, Williams already had an extensive criminal record and was involved in heroin and cocaine trafficking.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Labels: David Simon, Melvin Williams, Wood Harris