Character actor Hal Williams died on Wednesday, July 15, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 91.
His death was announced by his manager on Thursday.
Williams is best known for his recurring roles as Officer Smith (“Smitty”) on Sanford and Son, Harley Foster on The Waltons, and husband and father Lester Jenkins on the NBC sitcom 227.
On 227, Williams was husband to Marla Gibbs’ character, Mary Jenkins, and dad to Regina King’s Brenda Jenkins. The series originally aired from 1985 until 1990.
From the 1970s through the 1990s, Williams appeared in many television series including Kung Fu, The Waltons, Gunsmoke, S.W.A.T., Roots: The Next Generations, What’s Happening!!, The White Shadow, Knots Landing, Private Benjamin, The Dukes of Hazzard, Webster, The Jeffersons, Gimme a Break!, Hill Street Blues, The Sinbad Show, Moesha, and more.
His film credits include Private Benjamin (1980), Guess Who (2005), and Flight (2012).
Williams was born on December 14, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio. He began acting in community theater in Ohio, while working as a postal worker and corrections officer. He eventually moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career in 1968.
In 1980, Williams co-starred in Howard Zieff’s Private Benjamin as Drill Sergeant L.C. “Ted” Ross. He would later reprise the role in the hit television series of the same name.
After the series ended, Williams landed the role as working-class husband and father Lester Jenkins in 227. In the 1990s, he co-starred with comedic actor Sinbad in The Sinbad Show and The Cherokee Kid.
Williams was married twice. He is survived by three children and grandchildren.