'227' and 'Sanford and Son' Legendary Actor Hal Williams Dies at 91

An African American character actor who helped define the golden age of American sitcoms in the 1970s and 1980s, Hal Williams, has died, bringing warm laughter and emotion to living rooms. He was 91.

■ The warm patriarch of '227' as “Lester”… Setting a model for Black families

On local time on the 16th, Williams’s manager officially announced that the late actor passed away peacefully at age 91.

The brightest milestone in Williams’s career is, without question, NBC’s legendary sitcom '227' (1985-1990). In the series, which portrayed the everyday lives of middle-aged tenants living together in an apartment building, he delivered a standout performance as Lester Jenkins, the show’s protagonist and a solid pillar for his family.

He won praise for establishing across the United States “the most ideal and warm image of a Black father,” playing the devoted husband of Marla Gibbs (as Mary Jenkins) in the series and later serving as the father of world-famous actor Regina King (as Brenda Jenkins), who went on to win an Oscar. '227' aired 116 episodes over five seasons, drawing broad popularity. In 1987, Zaki(e) Harry won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and the show received widespread love from both critics and the public.

■ The unforgettable “Smitty” officer from 'Sanford and Son'… Backstory of an ad-lib that became legendary

The work that made him a household name before '227' was the 1970s hit sitcom 'Sanford and Son' (Sanford and Son). In that series, he appeared across 22 episodes as the police officer “Smitty” Smith (Officer "Smitty" Smith), showing off a wild, unmistakable presence.

In particular, his on-screen chemistry with his partner, Howard Platt (as Officer Hoppy Hopkins), had viewers in stitches. When Officer Hoppy spouted all kinds of complicated and professional police terms, Smitty would “translate” it in a comical way—turning it into the simple, clear language of everyday people.

In a live interview while he was still alive, Hal Williams also revealed the backstory behind how this famous comedy duo took shape. “I tried it once during rehearsal just for fun, and the producers were laughing hysterically. So we put it in the first scene, and it was an instant hit. Sometimes on rehearsal days, the script would come in poorly, and the producers would tell us, ‘Take an hour or two off and go come up with something fun.’ And the ad-libs that were born that way were used 그대로 on the broadcast.”

■ A 91-year acting path that kept watch over both the silver screen and the living-room TV

Williams was the owner of an unstoppable passion. He appeared in dozens of dramas, including 'On the Rocks,' 'The Waltons,' 'Private Benjamin,' and 'The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour'—and as proof of how vigorously he remained in front of the camera even in his later years, his most recent acting credit was appearing in the popular legal drama CBS 'Matlock' remake.

His footprints were just as clear on the screen. He took his place as a first-rate supporting actor who could handle any genre, appearing in major films including 'Hardcore,' 'The New Kid,' 'Percy & Thunder,' 'Guess Who?', and even 'Flight,' starring Denzel Washington.