Michael K. Williams' cause of death has been confirmed.
The manner of death was ruled an accident.
TheWireactor was found dead in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment on Sept. 6, PEOPLE previously confirmed. Williams' nephew discovered his body in the living room.
Drug paraphernalia was found in the apartment, theNew York Postreported. A separate law enforcement source previously told PEOPLE that Williams died of a suspected overdose and that officials believe he may have used heroin laced with fentanyl.
“It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams,” Williams' rep told PEOPLE at the time. “They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss.”
Rodrigo Varela/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Williams is best known for his roles onThe WireandLovecraft Country. He also appeared in major motion pictures, includingThe Purge: AnarchyandInherent Vice.
Over the years, Williams was open about his mental health and addiction struggles. Raised in the Vanderveer Projects of Brooklyn’s East Flatbush neighborhood, he was exposed to crime at an early age and developed a drug addiction in his teens.
He toldThe New York Timesin 2017 that although he’d had treatment for his addiction, he’d relapsed multiple times during his storied career. “Addiction doesn’t go away,” he said. “It’s an everyday struggle for me, but I’m fighting.”
Michael K. Williams in The Wire.HBO
“I was playing with fire,” he toldNJ.comin 2012. “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. Eventually, I got so sick and tired of this charade. No one who was in my circle, who knew me as Mike, was allowing me to get high.”
“I had to slip away to do drugs. I had to hide it. I’d be gone for days at a time. I was lonely in that part of my life. I was broke, broken and beat up. Exhausted. Empty,” he continued. “I finally said, ‘I can’t do this no more.’ I didn’t want to end up dead.”
Williams waslaid to restin Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where his mother has lived for over two decades, on Sept. 15.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
