Hal Williams

Halroy Candis Williams was born on December 14, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio, where he grew up alongside his parents — who worked at Curtiss-Wright Aviation — and a great-grandmother who helped raise him. As a boy, he spent countless hours at the movies, dreaming of one day becoming a cowboy. He would grow into something far more enduring: one of American television's most beloved character actors. Before the cameras ever found him, Williams was a man of steady purpose. He worked as a postal worker, a corrections officer, and for the Ohio Youth Commission, all while nurturing his love of performance in Columbus community theater. In 1968, at age 34, he made the leap to Los Angeles, though he did not fully commit to acting until 1970. Even then, he held on to his overnight shift at the LAX post office during the run of "Sanford and Son" — because, as he put it, he did not feel financially able to let go until his children finished school. It was on "Sanford and Son" (1972–1976) that Williams first captured the nation's affection, playing the warmhearted Officer "Smitty" Smith alongside Howard Platt's Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins. The two formed one of television's most endearing comedic partnerships. He reprised the role on "Sanford" (1980–1981) and spent the intervening years building a remarkable resume: "The Waltons," "Private Benjamin," and guest roles on everything from "The Dick Van Dyke Show" to "Magnum P.I." His signature role came with "227" (1985–1990), where he played Lester Jenkins — a loving husband, steady father, and moral anchor for the show's ensemble. Tall, mustachioed, and known for his warm teddy-bear presence, Williams brought a quiet dignity to a character that offered America a vision of positive, present Black fatherhood. He mentored younger cast members with characteristic directness, telling them: "Always be professional, be on time, know your lines." Regina King, among others, credited those lessons as the foundation of her career. Off screen, Williams carried his generosity just as far. He established the Mark K.A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Foundation in honor of his son Mark, a broadcasting student who died in a camping accident in the Angeles National Forest at age 20. The foundation has supported countless students of color pursuing careers in television and communications. He was also a longtime board member of the Los Angeles Actors' Theatre and served as host of an annual telethon for the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation. In his final years, Williams remained an active and joyful presence — making a guest appearance in the 2024 CBS reboot of "Matlock" and, just days before his passing, attending a "Sanford and Son: The Last Episode Celebration" reunion in Ohio with his old friend Howard Platt. Hal Williams died on July 15, 2026, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 91. He is survived by two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He opened doors, and then made sure others could walk through them.