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Hal Williams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hal Williams
Williams in 1986
Born
Halroy Candis Williams

1934, 1938, or 1939
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Died(2026-07-15)July 15, 2026
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2025
Known for
Spouses
Gay Anderson
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1976)​
Renee W. Himes
​
​
(m. 1978; div. 1984)​
Children3

Halroy Candis Williams (1934, 1938, or 1939 – July 15, 2026) was an American actor, best known for his recurring roles as Officer Smith ("Smitty") on Sanford and Son (1972–1976), Harley Foster on The Waltons (1973–1980), and as family patriarch Lester Jenkins on the NBC sitcom 227 which originally aired from 1985 until 1990. His film credits include Private Benjamin (1980), Guess Who (2005), and Flight (2012).

Early life

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Halroy Candis Williams was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1934,[1][2] 1938,[3][4] or 1939.[5]

Career

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In the early 1960s, Williams began acting in community theater in Ohio. Williams worked as a postal worker and corrections officer before moving to Hollywood to pursue an acting career in 1968.[6]

Williams at The Waltons' 40th anniversary, 2012

Williams began pursuing his acting career full-time in 1970. In 1973, he appeared as a guest star on the television series Kung Fu, playing a friend of Caine named Caleb in the second-season premiere.[7] In 1975, he reprised the role in the 24th episode of the third season. From 1972 to 1976, Williams had a recurring role as Officer "Smitty" Smith on Sanford and Son and the follow-up series Sanford.[2] From 1973 to 1980, he played Harley Foster on The Waltons.[8]

Willams appeared in the 1974 Disney film Herbie Rides Again as a Police Officer. He also appeared in Paul Schrader's 1979 film Hardcore as an auditioning adult film actor.[1] The following year, he co-starred as Drill Sergeant L.C. "Ted" Ross in Howard Zieff's Private Benjamin, a role he would reprise in the television series of the same name.[1] After the series concluded, Williams was cast as working-class husband and father Lester Jenkins in 227, which ran from 1985 until 1990.[2] In the early to mid-1990s, he co-starred with the comic Sinbad in The Sinbad Show[1] and The Cherokee Kid. His guest appearances over the years included Good Times, The Jeffersons, Hill Street Blues, Magnum, P.I., Night Court, and Moesha, among others.

Williams was also frequently cast as law enforcement characters, such as a police detective in Clint Eastwood's 1990 film The Rookie.[1] He portrayed Howard Jones, the father to Bernie Mac's character, in the 2005 film Guess Who.[9] He also voiced the role of Whip's Dad in the 2012 film Flight.[2]

In 2024, Williams played Autry in the second episode of the TV series Matlock (drawn from the original series of the same name, and reprised the role the following year in the series' tenth episode.[10]

Personal life and death

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Williams was married twice, and had three children.[8] He died from natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on July 15, 2026.[1][2][5]

Selected credits

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Theater

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Year Production Role Theater(s) Notes
1981Nevis Mountain DewBoise McCanlesLos Angeles Actors Theatre

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1972Cool BreezeHarry, PolicemanUncredited
1974Herbie Rides AgainTicketing Police Officer[10]
1979HardcoreBig Dick Blaque[10]
1980On the NickelPaul
1980Private BenjaminDrill Sergeant L.C. Ross[10]
1982The Escape ArtistCop At Mayor's Office
1990The RookieDetective Powell[10]
1996The Cherokee KidReverend Peel
2005Guess WhoHoward Jones[9]
2011Night ClubResident Playing Cards At Casino Night
2012FlightWhip's DadVoice[2]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1971The Jimmy Stewart ShowLieutenant Quigley1 episode
1971That GirlHerbie Robinson2 episodes[1]
1972–1976Sanford and SonOfficer "Smitty" Smith20 episodes[10]
1973Kung FuCaleb BrownSeason 2, episode 1 – "The Well"[7]
1973–1980The WaltonsHarley Foster7 episodes[11]
1974SidekicksMaxTV movie
1975GunsmokeWidgeSeason 14, episode 20 – "Hard Labor"[1]
1975S.W.A.T.Bo TateSeason 1, episode 12 – "Sole Survivor"
1975–1976On the RocksLester DeMottMain cast[7]
1977Quincy, M.E.CodySeason 2, episode 9 – "The Hot Dog Murder"[1]
1979Roots: The Next GenerationsAleck HaleySeason 1, episode 3 – "Part III (1914–1918)"
1979What's Happening!!Mr. LoganSeason 3, episode 17 – "The Eviction"
1979The White ShadowHenry JuddSeason 2, episode 3 – "Sudden Death"
1980Knots LandingMagazine Owner2 episodes[10]
1980–1981SanfordOfficer "Smitty" Smith5 episodes[1]
1982TJ HookerOfficer BryanSeason 1, episode 1 – "The Protectors"
1981–1983Private BenjaminSergeant Ted RossMain cast[1]
1984The Dukes of HazzardJonas JonesSeason 6, episode 21 – "Cooter's Confession"[10]
1984WebsterPrincipal JenkinsSeason 2, episode 2 – "Webster Long: Part 3"
1984The JeffersonsKent TobinSeason 11, episode 5 – "Some Enchanted Evening"
1984Gimme a Break!Dr. Phil GraySeason 4, episode 10 – "Julie's Lie"
1985–1990227Lester JenkinsMain cast[1]
1986Hill Street BluesKen EdwardsSeason 6, episode 15 – "I Want My Hill Street Blues"[10]
1988Magnum, P.I.Dave, The DJ2 episodes[1]
1991Night CourtHead Bailiff ReedySeason 8, episode 13 – "Bringing Down Baby"
1993–1994The Sinbad ShowRudy BryanMain cast[1]
1997MoeshaRosevelt Mitchell1 episode[1]
2019A Black Lady Sketch ShowHimselfSeason 1, episode 3 – "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade"[11]
2024–2025MatlockAutry2 episodes[1]

Notes

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Hal Williams Dies: Beloved 'Sanford And Son' Actor Was 91". Deadline. July 15, 2026. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hal Williams, '227' Star and 'Sanford and Son' Regular, Dies at 91". Variety. July 15, 2026. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  3. ↑ Merrill, Brian (2006). On This Date A Day-By-Day Look at Historical Events. Lulu Publishing. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-4303-0501-9.
  4. ↑ "Every detail you want to know about Hal Williams". University Wire. August 18, 2022. ProQuest 532496921. Full name: Halroy Candis Williams; Date of birth: December 14, 1938; Place of birth: Ohio, United States of America
  5. 1 2 Malone, Lilli. "Hal Williams, Columbus native and 'Sanford and Son' star, has died. Look back at his story". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2026-07-18. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  6. ↑ "Small role led Hal Williams to big part on NBC's hit '227'". Frederick News Post. Associated Press. September 3, 1987. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "Hal Williams, '227' and 'Sanford and Son' actor, dies. See his iconic roles". USA Today. July 16, 2026. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Barnes, Mike (2026-07-16). "Hal Williams, Actor on '227' and 'Sanford and Son,' Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2026-07-16. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  9. 1 2 Murray, Rebecca (2005). "Hal Williams Talks About His Role in 'Guess Who'". About.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lee, Benjamin (July 16, 2026). "Hal Williams, actor best known for Sanford and Son and 227, dies aged 91". The Guardian. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Edel, Victoria; Hatcher, Kirsty (July 16, 2026). "Hal Williams, 227 and Sanford and Son Star, Dies at 91". People. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
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