{"id":6938,"date":"2026-07-21T07:14:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T07:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tappyli.com\/?p=6938"},"modified":"2026-07-21T07:14:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T07:14:18","slug":"sanford-son-star-passed-away-at-age-91","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tappyli.com\/?p=6938","title":{"rendered":"Sanford & Son Star Passed Away At Age 91"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hal Williams, the veteran actor best known for his role on the hit sitcom\u00a0227<\/strong>, has died. He was 91.<\/p>\n

Williams passed away on the morning of Wednesday, July 15, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, his representative confirmed to\u00a0Deadline<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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A familiar face on television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Williams appeared in popular series including\u00a0Sanford and Son<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0The Waltons<\/strong>\u00a0before landing his memorable role as Lester Jenkins on\u00a0227<\/strong>\u00a0in 1985. Over a career that spanned decades, he became known for his warm screen presence and memorable performances in both comedy and drama.<\/p>\n

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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\u2019s prestigious Herbert Berghof Studio.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0People,<\/em>\u00a0before 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.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on that life-changing decision, Williams told GetTV, \u201cI sat down after getting divorced and said, \u2018What do I really want to try to do before the maker comes and gets me?\u2019 And it was acting.\u201d He packed up his car, drove to California in just 48 hours, and gave himself three years to make it as an actor.<\/p>\n

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Williams became a familiar face on television during the 1970s with guest appearances on popular series such as\u00a0The Waltons<\/strong>,\u00a0Good Times<\/strong>,\u00a0The Jeffersons<\/strong>,\u00a0Starsky & Hutch<\/strong>,\u00a0M<\/strong>A<\/em><\/strong>S*H<\/strong>, and\u00a0Barnaby Jones<\/strong>..<\/p>\n

His gamble paid off. In 1972, Williams was cast as Officer \u201cSmitty\u201d Smith on the hit NBC sitcom\u00a0Sanford and Son<\/strong>. He appeared in 20 episodes as one-half of a comedic police duo alongside Howard Platt\u2019s Officer \u201cHoppy\u201d Hopkins. The pair\u2019s contrasting personalities became a recurring source of humor and helped make Williams a familiar face to television audiences.<\/p>\n

In 1985, Williams landed one of his best-known roles as Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs\u2019 character Mary Jenkins, on the hit NBC sitcom\u00a0227<\/strong>. He remained a series regular throughout the show\u2019s five-season run, earning praise for his warm, humorous portrayal of the devoted family man.<\/p>\n

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