Hal Williams, Beloved TV Actor, Has Passed Away at 91

Who Was Hal Williams?

Hal Williams was a TV actor who was in some very famous and loved American comedy shows. Think of him like a friendly face you’d see on old sitcoms (situation comedies—funny TV shows about everyday life).

• He was 91 years old.
• His manager shared the news that he had died.
• He was in classic shows like “227” and “Sanford and Son.”

Important Point: Hal Williams was a well-known TV veteran, meaning he had been acting on television for a very long time.

Hal Williams on the Show “227”

“227” was a TV show that ran from 1985 to 1990. Here is what you need to know about it:

• It was about a group of middle-aged people living in the same apartment building.
• Williams played a character named Lester Jenkins.
• In the show, Lester was:
  • The husband of Mary Jenkins (played by Marla Gibbs)
  • The father of Brenda Jenkins (played by Regina King)
• The show was on the NBC channel.
• It had 116 episodes across 5 seasons.
• Another star, Jackée Harry, won an Emmy (a big TV award) in 1987 for best supporting actress.
• Other actors in the show included Helen Martin, Alaina Reed-Hall, and Curtis Baldwin.

Hal Williams on “Sanford and Son”

Williams was also in 22 episodes of the show “Sanford and Son.” Here is the simple version:

• He played a police officer named Officer “Smitty” Smith.
• Smitty worked as a pair with another officer, Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins, played by Howard Platt.
• They had a funny repeating bit (a joke they did a lot):
  1. Hoppy would explain a police case using big, confusing words.
  2. Smitty would then explain the same thing again using simple, everyday words everyone could understand.

How the Smitty and Hoppy Joke Started

In a recent interview with WKYC (a TV station), Williams explained how that funny joke began:

1. They tried the bit once during rehearsal (practice time before the show).
2. The producers (the people in charge) thought it was funny.
3. They did it in the first or second episode, and the audience liked it—it “clicked.”
4. Some days, there was no finished script, so producers would say: “Go take a 2-hour break and come back with a funny idea.”

Other TV and Movie Work

Hal Williams was in many other shows and films. Here are some:

• TV shows: “On the Rocks,” “The Waltons,” “Private Benjamin,” “The Sinbad Show”
• His newest TV job was on CBS’s remake of “Matlock” (a new version of an old show)
• Movies: “Hardcore,” “The Rookie,” “Percy & Thunder,” “Guess Who,” and “Flight”

Summary

Hal Williams was a longtime TV actor who made people laugh in shows like “227” and “Sanford and Son.” He played Lester Jenkins in “227” and Officer Smitty in “Sanford and Son,” where his simple explanations of police talk became a beloved joke. He acted in many other TV shows and movies and was 91 when he passed away.

FAQ

1. What shows is Hal Williams most famous for?
He is best known for “227,” where he played Lester Jenkins, and “Sanford and Son,” where he played Officer Smitty.

2. How did the Smitty and Hoppy joke work?
Hoppy used complicated police words, and Smitty repeated the same idea in easy, plain language.

3. How old was Hal Williams when he died?
He was 91 years old.

4. Did Hal Williams win any awards?
He did not win an Emmy himself, but his “227” co-star Jackée Harry won one in 1987.

5. What was Hal Williams’ last TV role?
His most recent TV appearance was on CBS’s remake of “Matlock.”