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- Hal Williams passed away of natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, California.
- Built a more than 50 year acting career; breakout roles as Officer "Smitty" Smith on Sanford and Son and Lester Jenkins on 227.
- Gave his final interview days before his passing on WKYC 3; credits include The Waltons, Gunsmoke, and the Matlock revival.
Hal Williams, the veteran character actor best known for his roles on the classic sitcoms Sanford and Son and 227, has died. He was 91 years old.
Williams passed away of natural causes on Wednesday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, according to multiple reports.
Born Halroy Candis Williams in Columbus, Ohio, in 1934, he built an acting career that spanned more than 50 years. He first gained widespread recognition in the 1970s as Officer “Smitty” Smith, the straight-talking Los Angeles police officer on Norman Lear’s hit sitcom Sanford and Son. He later went on to co-star as Lester Jenkins, the family patriarch and husband to Mary Jenkins (played by Marla Gibbs), on the NBC comedy 227.
Williams gave his final interview five days before his passing on WKYC 3 in his home state of Ohio ahead of a Sanford and Son reunion event.
Beyond his most famous sitcom roles, Williams was a television presence. His credits included appearances on The Waltons, That Girl, Gunsmoke, What’s Happening!!, and Moesha. Most recently, Williams returned to the screen with a guest appearance in two episodes of the CBS drama revival Matlock.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
The post Hal Williams, ‘227’ and ‘Sanford and Son’ actor, dies at 91 appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.
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