Veteran television actor Hal Williams, best known for his roles in the sitcoms Sanford & Son and 227, has died at the age of 91.
His representative confirmed that Williams passed away on July 15 at his residence in California, as reported by The Guardian.
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Williams did not start acting until his 30s. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1968, he worked as a postal worker and corrections officer.
He gained widespread recognition for playing Officer "Smitty" Smith in 22 episodes of Sanford and Son, a Norman Lear comedy that aired from 1972 to 1977.
During the show's production, Williams kept his overnight post office job because he felt financially insecure.
"I used to go around to the high schools and theater groups and young people," he said in an interview.
"I used to tell them that if your aspirations include mansions and limousines and things like that, be prepared for a lot of rejection because you need to get a degree in something.
Overnight sensations usually take 25 years."
Williams also portrayed Lester Jenkins on 227, a popular sitcom starring Regina King and Jackée Harry that aired from 1985 to 1990.
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"What a gentleman," Harry wrote on Instagram after his death.
"Hal always carried himself with grace, and he always had me laughing … He was also a stand-up guy who believed Black fathers on TV should be loving, present, and compassionate.
He helped show America what that looked like."
His film credits include Hardcore, Herbie Rides Again, Private Benjamin, The Rookie, and Guess Who. He later reprised his role for the Private Benjamin television series.
His extensive TV work spans The Waltons, The Sinbad Show, The Dukes of Hazzard, Knots Landing, Moesha, Hill Street Blues, and a recent appearance in the Matlock remake starring Kathy Bates.
"There's a lot more Black companies now," he said in 2022. "There are a lot more Black producers, writers, and directors than they ever were before.
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They're all young. But we opened the doors."
