Few series in television have been in quite the same level of esteem as HBO's The Wire. Spanning five seasons, the series created by former Baltimore police reporter David Simon has been lauded for its authenticity, complexly interwoven narratives, and its diverse cast of characters, and is considered to be one of the best shows ever made. With such a large ensemble, many of its actors have gone on to promising careers, many having gotten their start on the show.
With the series 20 years old this year, now seems like a fitting occasion to check in and see what the immensely talented cast are currently up to, and look back at their roles. Read on to see what the cast of The Wire is up to now and where your favorite characters from the series are appearing next!
9 Dominic West
As one of the main protagonists of the series, British actor Dominic West truly gave life to rough-around-the-edges cop Jimmy McNulty, whose character found himself in numerous predicaments throughout the show's five seasons. West became a breakout star due to his tenure on the show, and has since appeared in numerous films and series, including most notably joining Showtime's The Affair, which earned him critical attention as well. West's latest role was in Downtown Abby: A New Era, but he's been steadily active in film and TV in the years since. Looks like that McNulty energy has kept it's momentum going!
8 Idris Elba
Perhaps the biggest star to come from The Wire, by now Idris Elba has become a household name after his turn as mercurial yet cunning gangster Stringer Bell. He has appeared in several films and series, most recently as a villain in The Fast and Furious franchise, Luther, Heimdall in the MCU, and Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad. The British actor shot to fame after his tenure on the show and is considered one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood.
Currently, Elba is filming a feature film continuation of Luther and looks to be securing more projects in the future, with many speculating that he should play (or has been considered for) the next James Bond. With roles in franchises and feature films and acclaimed performances throughout his career, Elba's star power shows no sign of fading.
7 Michael K. Williams
No character on The Wire quite had the impact and mystique of Omar Little, portrayed by Michael K Williams. The character of Omar was critically acclaimed thanks to Williams' sly, charismatic and humanistic portrayal of the character, who even Barack Obama says is his favorite ("that guy is unbelievable," the U.S. President has said).
Williams appeared in several movies but is perhaps best known for his extensive work in TV series, including HBO's Boardwalk Empire as Chalky White, along with great work in The Night Of, When They See Us, and Lovecraft Country; he got the chance to show off his comedy chops whenever he could, in shows like The Office and F is For Family. Tragically, Williams passed away late 2021, but his legacy remains and his work as Omar Little continues to inspire viewers and remains a fan favorite.
6 Lance Reddick
Few can forget Lance Reddick's memorable turn as Lt Cedric Daniels on the show and for good reason. Reddick's quiet yet intimidating power was compelling to watch and connected with the viewers; he was a rare source of moral authority in the corrupt world of The Wire. Reddick has since grown in star power as he appeared in franchises such as John Wick and the Amazon Prime series Bosch, and will be headlining the new Netflix live-action series Resident Evil. Reddick's other credits include turns in blockbusters such as Godzilla Vs Kong and has a steady resume of film and TV roles, with especially great work in the J.J. Abrams series Lost and Fringe. Reddick has since gone on to maintain an impressive career and it's always a delight to see him appear no matter the capacity.
5 Sonja Sohn
In a series populated by male characters, the strong female character of Kima Greggs, played by Sonja Sohn, stood out and notably made an impression. After her role in The Wire, Sohn found steady work in series such as Burn Notice, The Good Wife, Brothers and Sisters and Body of Proof. As one of the earliest characters introduced on the show, Sohn's turn as Kima was instantly endearing to audiences. Most recently she's appeared on Showtime's The Chi, Star Trek Discovery, and the Amazon series Utopia.
4 Seth Gilliam
As a part of the rare comedic relief, officer Ellis Carver provided some much needed levity on the often hard-hitting series. Seth Gilliam earned attention for his role on the series, which later led to work on other established series such as Nurse Jackie, Person of Interest, The Good Wife, and most notably a recurring role on the AMC hit series The Walking Dead as Father Gabirel, Gilliam has manged to keep busy and has enjoyed a varied list of supporting roles in numerous series and films and appears to remain active.
3 Wendall Pierce
As the sidekick to Dominic West's McNulty, Wendall Pierce's Bunk quickly became an established character and fan favorite. Pierce's post Wire career has been very fruitful, with roles in series such as David Simon's Treme, Ray Donovan, and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. Pierce maintained longevity as an actor since the days of The Wire, and it's always a pleasure to see him appear on-screen in any capacity.
Tough his career slowed down a bit after a 2016 arrest at the DNC and some battery allegations (with disputed claims that he attacked Meghan Markle, now Duchess of Sussex, on the set of Suits), his recent run on Broadway as the legendary Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, is considered a great return.
2 Aidan Gillen
In his role as Tommy Carcetti, Aidan Gillen helped showcase the poltiical aspect of the series. Gillen had some feature film roles to his name before The Wire, but quickly established himself as a promising talent afterwards. From there, he landed a role in another staple HBO series, Game of Thrones, and other major film work such as The Dark Knight Rises, The Maze Runner, and Bohemian Rhapsody. Gillen is always excellent no matter the part, with a great role in the current series Kin, and upcoming projects including The Ulysees Project and James and Lucia.
1 Other Familar Faces
In addition to its main cast, The Wire was populated with several noteworthy side characters; it has a bigger cast than a classic Russian epic. Ande Royo's Bubbles was an iconic character, and he's gone on to star in series such as Empire. Wood Harris and Jamie Hector, who played Alonso Barksdale and Marlo Stanfield respecitvely, went on to star in network series such as The Breaks and Heroes.
Other actors such as Frankie Faison and Jim True-Frost continue to appear regularly in television and film and are still currently active today. Who could also forget a very young Micheal B. Jordan in his small yet tragic turn as Wallace in Season one, which continues to resonate with viewers. It's a testament to the talent assembled that no matter how big or small the role, each charcter left an impact, and along with Freaks and Geeks, is arguably the most important show to kickstart the careers of notable actors, many of whom still take on great roles today.