Who is chalky on boardwalk empire

He has similarities to Omar in certain kind of ways. I love what he represents for — I guess, I would say, my people.

He had a strength and sensitivity that rarely go together, all wrapped up in a style uniquely his own, both on and off set. His talent was only matched by the size of his heart — he was incredibly generous. He looked out for me in many ways when we worked together. His work is already timeless, and it will live on. Williams was open about his battles with substance abuse and had spoken about relapsing multiple times throughout his life. My issues went another way, and that took me down the road of chronic abuse.

I was a user. In a brutally candid profile for NJ. I had to stop trying to be Omar and just be Mike. I have family members one generation removed from me who were sharecroppers — who were alive during Jim Crow. I got trauma passed down.

To cheer us on. Describe exactly who that character is. Michael K. Williams: I had to audition. I put myself on tape and sent it back and they booked me. Chalky, basically, is the unofficial mayor of the African-American community of Atlantic City which, in those days, was referred to as Chicken Bone Beach.

His importance to Nucky Thompson at the beginning of their relationship is that Nucky knew he needed someone in the Black community to help sway votes and that man was Chalky.

Chalky realized his position as that voice for the community and used it as leverage to make sure that things ran smoothly in the community. Atlantic City is a seasonal town, so when it was off-season — primarily the winter months — he made sure that folks sill had food, heat, things of that nature. But there was a real man named Chalky White, he was a boxer. Chalky White, I believe, was from California.

Talk about being able to play that role, a very empowered character. MKW: To me, to be called to play a role like Chalky White and what he represented to the Black community, especially at that time, was very humbling for me. It was an homage to my ancestors, my dad, uncles, who lived in that era. It was an homage to them and what they dealt with. I was very proud to play a character like Chalky who came from seeing his father be lynched and [only having] a limited education, but still had the finer things in life and gave his kids the best life he could.

As a Black man, being able to play a role like that, especially in that time and era, it made me very proud and was a very humbling experience. Eli then allows Chalky to question Dinler personally. Chalky tells Dinler a story about his father, a carpenter. The project took 10 months and once completed Chalky was allowed to visit, through the front door, to see the work.

Eli is waiting for Chalky when he leaves the room where Dinler is being held. In a speakeasy in the North Side Chalky holds a bottle of liquor in one hand and an un-affixed label for Monogram Whiskey in the other.

He puts down the bottle and asks Jerome who made the poor quality stickers. Jerome says that it was Furskey on Illinois Avenue. Chalky smudges the label with his thumb and complains that the ink is not set. Jerome says that Furskey offered a 50 dollar discount. Chalky angrily says that Furskey could pay him and he still would not use his work. An incessant knocking starts up on the door and the visitor calls out for Mr White.

Jerome heads to the door, hand on his weapon. The employee opens it and the visitor steps in. He addresses Chalky, correctly assuming that he is Mr White, and says that is an honour to meet him. Chalky profanely asks who he is and he introduces himself with an alias, Michael Lewis. He claims that he is a businessman from Manhattan , New York with a proposition and asks if he can approach. Chalky tells him to stay where he is, shrugs and asks what he offers.

Lewis notices packing material on the floor and returns it to the open crate of whiskey on the barstool next to him. Lewis launches into a story about discounted branded coats available from less well known vendors.

Chalky points out that he is not running a coat store and Lewis states that the principle is the same in the alcohol business. He elucidates that Chalky manufactures a product with a price determined by quality, cost and competition. Lewis asks what Chalky says and Chalky puts his hands in his pockets and obstinately wonders what about. Lewis wonders if he can purchase cases of liquor from Chalky, saying that it would be to their mutual benefit.

Chalky notes that he is talking about cutting out the middle man in this case Nucky and forming a private arrangement. Lewis says that Chalky merely needs to recognise an opportunity and puts the money on the table in front of him.