J01989 Summary:

BILL NOJ01989
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORPARKER
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
 
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J01989 Actions:

BILL NOJ01989
 
03/03/2022REFERRED TO FINANCE
03/08/2022REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION
03/08/2022ADOPTED
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J01989 Committee Votes:

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J01989 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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J01989 Text:

 
Senate Resolution No. 1989
 
BY: Senator PARKER
 
        LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION  mourning the untimely death
        of   Michael   K.   Williams,    acclaimed    actor,
        distinguished   choreographer   and   LGBTQ   rights
        advocate
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this legislative body to honor  and  pay
just  tribute  to  the  memory  of  those  prominent  individuals  whose
reputable careers in the arts and creative talents have  contributed  to
the  greater representation of minority groups in entertainment, and the
cultural enrichment of not just their community but the entire State  of
New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  deep  sympathy  and  great sadness that this
Legislative Body records the passing of Michael K. Williams, who died on
September 6, 2021, recognizing  his  significant  contributions  to  the
portrayal of diverse characters in media and other vast accomplishments;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  Michael  K.  Williams  is  survived  by  his mother, Paula
Williams; one brother, Paul Carey; and one nephew, Dominic Dupont; and
 
  WHEREAS, Born Michael Kenneth Williams  on  November  22,  1966,  to
Paula  and  Booker  T. Williams, he was raised in Brooklyn by his mother
growing up at the  Vanderveer  Estates  located  in  East  Flatbush;  he
eventually  went  on  to attend George Westinghouse Career and Technical
Education High School in Downtown Brooklyn; and
 
  WHEREAS, After spending a  brief  time  as  a  pharmaceutical  temp,
Michael  K.  Williams  left to pursue a highly esteemed career in dance;
and
 
  WHEREAS, While appearing as a  background  dancer  for  house  music
musician  Kym  Sims,  Michael  K.  Williams  gained further recognition,
leading to him choreographing concert tours for the likes of Madonna and
George Michael as well as the music video for Crystal Water's  1994  hit
single "100% Pure Love"; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  1991,  Michael  K.  Williams  was slashed with a razor
during a bar fight on his 25th Birthday,  giving  him  his  famous  face
length facial scar, the physical attribute that would make him instantly
recognizable  later on in his career; even though the scar made him more
desirable for "thug" roles in music videos,  unfortunately,  it  brought
his dance career to a halt; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Making  his pivot towards acting, Michael K. Williams held
roles in movies like "Bullet" in 1996, alongside Tupac Shakur and  minor
roles in television shows such as "The Sopranos"; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  2002,  Michael K. Williams gained his breakout roll as
Omar Little on "The Wire," gaining him great critical acclaim; his  role
as  the openly gay black drug dealer living in West Baltimore was highly
lauded and served as a foundation for  addressing  prevalent  issues  of
homophobia within the black community; and
 
 
  WHEREAS,   Michael   K.   Williams'   commitment   to   showing  the
vulnerability of Omar's character in direct contrast to the harshness of
his surroundings as well as his authentic portrayal of realities of that
life was  unprecedented  in  mainstream  media  and  provoked  a  strong
discourse on what it meant to be black and gay in America; and
 
  WHEREAS,  With  the success of "The Wire" in his repertoire, Michael
K.  Williams continued to demonstrate his acting prowess in more  highly
acclaimed  roles  like  that  of  racketeer  Chalky  White in "Boardwalk
Empire", Bobby McCray's father  in  "When  They  See  Us"  and  Montrose
Freeman,  another  representation of a gay black character in "Lovecraft
Country"; and
 
  WHEREAS, Michael K. Williams  created  a  distinguished  career  for
himself,  executing  his  roles with versatility, empathy and tenderness
that was unheard of particularly for the characters  he  portrayed;  his
carefully  crafted  portrayals  added layers of nuance and strength that
made his characters highly relatable; and
 
  WHEREAS, For these reasons and so many more he will be deeply missed
and his contributions to media as a powerhouse actor will continue on as
a comfort to those who knew and were inspired by him; now, therefore, be
it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn  the  untimely  death of Michael K. Williams, critically acclaimed
actor and  distinguished  choreographer,  and  to  express  its  deepest
sympathies to his family; and be if further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Michael K. Williams.
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