Melvin Williams, former Baltimore drug kingpin who acted in ‘The Wire,’ dies at 73

Melvin Williams, the former drug kingpin who inspired the show The Wire and even went on to act in it, died on Thursday at age 73.

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Melvin Williams, the former drug kingpin who inspired the show The Wire and even went on to act in it, died on Thursday at age 73.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Williams was known as “Little Melvin” and was part of a hugely successful drug trade in Baltimore. David Simon, who would eventually create The Wire, even created a five-part series about Williams in 1987.

When Williams was released from jail, he left crime behind him and turned to acting. He even appeared on The Wire in a reoccurring role as the character Deacon.

Following the news of Williams’ passing, Simon posted on Twitter that it was Williams “who made me begin to rethink the drug war.”

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