Hal Williams, a renowned television actor known for his roles in classic American sitcoms such as “227” and “Sanford and Son,” has passed away, his manager confirmed. He was 91 years old.
“227” aired from 1985 to 1990, centering on a group of middle-aged tenants residing in an apartment building. In this series, Williams portrayed Lester Jenkins, husband to Marla Gibbs’ character Mary Jenkins and father to Regina King’s Brenda Jenkins. The show broadcast 116 episodes over five seasons on NBC. In 1987, Jackée Harry, a series star, secured an Emmy for her role as best supporting actress. The cast also featured Helen Martin, Alaina Reed-Hall, and Curtis Baldwin.
On “Sanford and Son,” Williams took on the role of Officer “Smitty” Smith, appearing in 22 episodes. His character was paired with Howard Platt’s Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins. The duo was known for their recurring comedic routine where Hopkins would present a case with complex police terminology, and Smith would then simplify it for the audience.
In a recent interview with WKYC, Williams shared the origin of the Smitty and Hoppy routine: “We did it one time in rehearsal and the producers thought it was funny. We did it in the first or second episode and it clicked. Some days, we would come to rehearsal and they didn’t have anything solid. [The producers would then say,] ‘Go out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back.’”
Williams’ other television appearances include roles in “On the Rocks,” “The Waltons,” “Private Benjamin,” and “The Sinbad Show.” His latest TV role was in CBS’ “Matlock” remake. In film, Williams was featured in “Hardcore,” “The Rookie,” “Percy & Thunder,” “Guess Who,” and “Flight.”
