Hal Williams, veteran actor from '227' and 'Sanford and Son', dies

Veteran actor Hal Williams, best known for his roles in the hit sitcoms 227 and Sanford and Son, has died at the age of 91, his manager confirmed.

Williams was widely recognized for portraying Lester Jenkins on NBC's 227, which aired from 1985 to 1990. He starred opposite Marla Gibbs, who played his on-screen wife Mary Jenkins, while Regina King portrayed their daughter, Brenda. The sitcom ran for five seasons and 116 episodes, becoming one of the defining television comedies of its era.

Before 227, Williams gained popularity as Officer "Smitty" Smith on Sanford and Son. He appeared in 22 episodes as one half of the recurring police duo alongside Howard Platt's Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins. Their comedic exchanges, with Hoppy delivering complicated police jargon and Smitty translating it into simple terms, became a fan-favorite running gag.

In a recent interview, Williams recalled that the routine developed during rehearsals after producers responded positively to the pair's natural chemistry, eventually making it a recurring feature of the series.

Across a career spanning several decades, Williams also appeared in television shows including On the Rocks, The Waltons, Private Benjamin, The Sinbad Show, and most recently the CBS reboot of Matlock.

His film credits included Hardcore, The Rookie, Percy & Thunder, Guess Who, and Flight.

Williams leaves behind a television legacy built on memorable comedic performances that resonated with audiences across generations.