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Beloved ‘Sanford And Son’ Star Hal Williams Dead at 91 — A TV Era Ends
Hal Williams, Beloved "Sanford and Son" Actor, Has Passed Away
Who Was Hal Williams?
Hal Williams was a veteran actor—that means someone who has been working at acting for a very long time. He is probably best known for playing a character named Officer “Smitty” Smith on a classic TV show called Sanford and Son.
According to his representative (the person who speaks for him), Hal Williams died this morning at his home in Rancho Mirage. He was 91 years old.
Smitty on Sanford and Son
On Sanford and Son, Williams played Smitty, who was one half of a crimefighting duo (a pair of people who fight crime). They appeared together on 22 episodes of the show.
Here is how their funny routine worked:
- His partner was Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins, played by Howard Platt.
- Hoppy would often start a scene by giving a stiff, “official” police explanation of their investigation (like a robot reading a rulebook).
- Then Smitty would explain what Hoppy meant in plain, everyday English for the main characters Fred and Lamont (played by Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson).
Important: For viewers, watching these two walk into a scene was like seeing another funny character, Aunt Esther, show up—you just knew something funny was about to happen!
How the Funny Bit Was Born
Williams once told a TV station called WKYC that the characters’ silly style started by accident in rehearsal (practice time before the show).
He remembered:
- “We did it one time in rehearsal and the producers thought it was funny.”
- “We did it in the first or second episode and it clicked” (meaning it worked well with the audience).
- Some days, they had no solid script, so producers would say: “Go out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back.”
He also played Smitty again on five episodes of a follow-up show called NBC’s Sanford in 1980, where Redd Foxx returned as the main character.
A Long and Busy Career
Williams’ career lasted almost six decades (60 years) and he worked steadily (never stopped getting jobs). Besides Sanford and Son, he had other long-running roles:
- On the Rocks (ABC): 24 episodes
- Private Benjamin (TV version): full run, played grumpy Sgt. Ted Ross
- The Sinbad Show: 20 episodes as Rudy Bryan
- 227 (1985–1990): played Lester Jenkins. This show was special because it showed a Black middle-class family—only the second one on TV at the time besides Coby. The cast had many famous names like Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Regina King, Jackée Harry, and Paul Winfield.
He also made guest appearances (short visits) on tons of popular TV shows, including:
- That Girl
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- Gunsmoke
- Good Times
- Knots Landing
- The Waltons
- The Dukes of Hazzard
- Webster
- Hill Street Blues
- Magnum P.I.
- Night Court
- L.A. Law
- Suddenly Susan
- Moesha
- Parks and Recreation
Most recently, he made two special guest appearances on the new Matlock starring Kathy Bates, playing a local resident named “Autry” whose words helped the law firm’s cases.
Movies Too!
On the big screen (in movie theaters), Williams acted with many famous people:
- Opposite George C. Scott in Hardcore
- With Clint Eastwood in The Rookie
- With James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, and Courtney B. Vance in Percy & Thunder
- Opposite Ashton Kutcher, Bernie Mac, and Zoe Saldaña in Guess Who
- As Denzel Washington’s father in Flight
Helping Others Off Screen
Williams was more than an actor. He:
- Was a longtime board member of the Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre (a group started by Ralph Waite).
- Started the Mark K.A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Foundation. This gives money to students of color who want college degrees in TV or communications.
- The Foundation is named after his late son Mark, a broadcasting student, who died at age 20 on a camping trip in the Angeles National Forest.
Family
Williams is survived by (still alive after him):
- Two children
- Three grandchildren
- Three great-grandchildren
He was predeceased by (died before him) his son Mark.
Summary
Hal Williams was a beloved actor for over 55 years. He made us laugh as Smitty on Sanford and Son, entertained us in many other TV shows and movies, and helped young people through his scholarship foundation. He died at 91, leaving behind a big family and an even bigger legacy of joy.
FAQ
Q: What is Hal Williams most famous for?
A: He is best known for playing Officer “Smitty” Smith on the classic TV show Sanford and Son.
Q: How did the Smitty and Hoppy comedy routine start?
A: It began accidentally in rehearsal. The producers thought it was funny, so they kept it for the show.
Q: Did Hal Williams do anything besides act?
A: Yes! He helped run a theatre group and created a scholarship for students of color studying TV or communications.
Q: How old was Hal Williams when he died?
A: He was 91 years old.
