Sanford & Son Star Passed Away At Age 91

Hal Williams, the veteran actor best known for his role on the hit sitcom 227, has died. He was 91.

Williams passed away on the morning of Wednesday, July 15, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, his representative confirmed to Deadline.

A familiar face on television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Williams appeared in popular series including Sanford and Son and The Waltons before landing his memorable role as Lester Jenkins on 227 in 1985. Over a career that spanned decades, he became known for his warm screen presence and memorable performances in both comedy and drama.

Hal Williams was an American actor whose career spanned more than five decades in television, film, and theater. Born on December 14, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio, he served in the U.S. Air Force before pursuing acting. He studied at New York’s prestigious Herbert Berghof Studio.

According to People, before finding success in Hollywood, Williams worked as a social worker, corrections officer, and postal worker. After his marriage ended, he decided to pursue his longtime dream of acting and moved to Los Angeles in 1968.

Reflecting on that life-changing decision, Williams told GetTV, “I sat down after getting divorced and said, ‘What do I really want to try to do before the maker comes and gets me?’ And it was acting.” He packed up his car, drove to California in just 48 hours, and gave himself three years to make it as an actor.

Williams became a familiar face on television during the 1970s with guest appearances on popular series such as The Waltons, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Starsky & Hutch, MAS*H, and Barnaby Jones..

His gamble paid off. In 1972, Williams was cast as Officer “Smitty” Smith on the hit NBC sitcom Sanford and Son. He appeared in 20 episodes as one-half of a comedic police duo alongside Howard Platt’s Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins. The pair’s contrasting personalities became a recurring source of humor and helped make Williams a familiar face to television audiences.

In 1985, Williams landed one of his best-known roles as Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs’ character Mary Jenkins, on the hit NBC sitcom 227. He remained a series regular throughout the show’s five-season run, earning praise for his warm, humorous portrayal of the devoted family man.

Beyond television, Williams appeared in films including Private Benjamin (1980), The Waltons: Homecoming, and Guess Who (2005). He continued acting well into his later years, making guest appearances on shows such as Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, and The Rookie.

Williams was the father of three children from his first marriage.