A Beloved Television Star Who Shaped Generations Is Remembered

For generations of television viewers, Hal Williams was a familiar face.

Whether he was appearing as Officer “Smitty” Smith on Sanford and Son or portraying Lester Jenkins on 227, Williams brought a calm, natural presence to the screen. His characters could make audiences laugh, but they also represented something deeper: families, neighbors, workers, and fathers who felt recognizable to viewers at home.

Williams died on July 15, 2026, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 91. His representative said he died of natural causes.

A Career Built Over Decades

Born Harold Williams on December 14, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio, Williams did not begin his professional life as an overnight Hollywood star.

Before pursuing acting, he held several jobs, including working as a postal employee and corrections officer. He eventually moved to Hollywood in 1968 and began building a career that would span decades.

His early television work came during an important period in American entertainment, when Black performers were gaining greater opportunities to portray characters with increasingly varied backgrounds and personalities.

Williams became part of that change.

The Role That Made Him Familiar

One of Williams’s memorable early television roles was Officer Smitty Smith on Sanford and Son, the classic sitcom starring Redd Foxx.

His recurring appearances made him recognizable to viewers during the show’s run in the 1970s.

But another role would eventually become especially significant to his legacy.

On 227, Williams played Lester Jenkins, husband of Mary Jenkins, portrayed by Marla Gibbs. The series centered on the residents of an apartment building in Washington, D.C., mixing comedy with stories about family, friendship, relationships, and everyday life.

Williams’ portrayal of Lester gave audiences a different kind of television father: loving, present, humorous, and involved in his family’s life.

A Representation That Mattered

Williams’s contribution wasn’t simply about having a long list of television credits.

His work also mattered because of the kinds of characters he portrayed.

Jackée Harry, who starred alongside Williams on 227, remembered him following his death as a gentleman who carried himself with grace and humor. She also highlighted his belief that Black fathers on television should be depicted as loving, present, and compassionate.

That perspective helps explain why his work continues to resonate.

Television has enormous power to shape what audiences see as ordinary family life. For viewers who rarely saw their own experiences reflected on screen, seeing a Black father portrayed as a caring and active member of his family could carry particular significance.