14. The Deacon Was Played By The Real-Life Avon Barksdale
The Deacon, a church figure that helps both Cutty and Bunny Colvin during the course of The Wires latter three seasons, is a minor but interesting character. He has a significant impact despite his relatively brief screen time. What is most interesting, however, is that notorious drug baron Melvin Williams, who had received a thirty-four year prison sentence for his crimes, was cast in the role. Writers Ed Burns and David Simon had, respectively, been the arresting officer and the covering journalist at the time of his arrest and had based the character of Avon Barksdale, as well as the events of season one in particular, upon Williams life.