10 Best HBO Characters Ever
3. Omar Little - The Wire
Barack Obama once said of his favorite character on the genre redefining show The Wire, "He's not my favorite person, but he's a fascinating character."
Brought to life in a stunning whirlwind of humorous wit, deadly cunning, and chilling menace by the late, great Michael K. Williams, Omar was an unheard of breath of fresh air in the swiftly stagnating landscape of police procedurals and crime dramas of the time.
The shotgun-wielding stick-up artist is about as rich a character as can be conceived for a television show. As a gay man, Omar's personality is sharply juxtaposed against the testosterone-infused machismo of the circles in which he is usually found. He will also not harm civilians if possible, and finds the use of profane language extremely offensive. He flaunts his formidable intelligence across the course of The Wire's five-season run, and despite his low-level street standing, Omar successfully outwits the big fish of Baltimore's drug circle on multiple occasions.
The central focus of many of The Wire's greatest scenes, Michael K. Williams' performance is, to this day, highlighted as one of the strongest aspects of one of the greatest television shows ever made.