Chalky White steals the scene as leader of the African American community in Atlantic City of Boardwalk Empire. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the show was inspired by the non-fiction book by Nelson Johnson and is known for its portrayal of historical figures in the Prohibition era. Williams’ Chalky played a major role in running a bootlegging operation with Nucky Thompson, portrayed by Steve Buscemi. The show won numerous Emmy and Golden Globes awards. 

Jim Bennett, played by Mark Wahlberg, leads a double life: English professor by day, gambler by night.  He borrows a huge sum of money from loan shark Neville Baraka, played by Williams. This critically acclaimed movie was deeply special to Williams as he had envisioned working with Wahlberg at the very start of his career. 

In this Netflix miniseries, Ava DuVernay directs the emotionally harrowing journey of the Central Park Five. Based on the actual events of a rape and assault case that occurred in 1989, Williams plays the father of Bobby McCray, one of the falsely accused boys. The part was deeply personal for the actor, proclaiming that he would “make every ounce of my being available to every human living thing on that set.” Williams then embarked on a personal journey to expose the root of the American mass incarceration crisis: the juvenile justice system. The role landed him his fourth Emmy nomination, true to his passion and efforts. 

Williams stars as Montrose Freeman in this horror drama series, his final television performance. Set in the 1950s, the story follows a young African American man in search of his father. The series was expected to earn Williams his first Emmy this year, with voting ending a week before he died. 

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