Hal Williams, '227' and 'Sanford and Son' star, dies at 91
Hal Williams, the American sitcom veteran who starred as Lester Jenkins on NBC's "227" and appeared as Officer "Smitty" Smith on "Sanford and Son," has died at 91, according to his manager. Interest in hal williams 82162278217 star roles surged as fans remembered his work alongside Marla Gibbs and Regina King. Variety reported the confirmation on July 15, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Hal Williams died at 91; his manager confirmed the news to Variety.
- He starred as Lester Jenkins on NBC's "227" (1985-1990), opposite Marla Gibbs and Regina King.
- He played Officer "Smitty" Smith in 22 episodes of "Sanford and Son."
- His later credits included CBS's "Matlock" remake, plus films such as "Guess Who" and "Flight."
Who was Hal Williams on "227" and "Sanford and Son"?
On "227," which followed middle-aged tenants in an apartment building, Williams played Lester Jenkins, husband to Marla Gibbs' Mary Jenkins and father to Regina King's Brenda Jenkins. The NBC sitcom ran for five seasons and 116 episodes from 1985 to 1990.
Jackée Harry won a 1987 Emmy for best supporting actress for her work on the series. Other cast members included Helen Martin, Alaina Reed-Hall, and Curtis Baldwin. For more TV news and streaming alerts, see BlasterPost's Streaming & TV Alerts.
Williams also appeared in 22 episodes of "Sanford and Son" as Officer "Smitty" Smith, paired with Howard Platt's Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins. Their recurring bit had Hoppy outline a case in dense police jargon, then Smitty restate it in plain English.
How did the Smitty and Hoppy gag become a sitcom staple?
In a WKYC interview cited by Variety, Williams said the routine started in rehearsal. Producers found it funny, and it clicked after early episodes. Some days, he recalled, the team was told to take a break and bring back something solid for the scene.
What other roles defined Hal Williams' career?
Beyond those sitcom staples, Williams' TV credits included "On the Rocks," "The Waltons," "Private Benjamin," and "The Sinbad Show." His most recent television role was on CBS's "Matlock" remake.
On the film side, he appeared in "Hardcore," "The Rookie," "Percy & Thunder," "Guess Who," and "Flight." A cause of death was not disclosed in the Variety report.
Why does Hal Williams' death matter to TV fans now?
Williams helped define two eras of American network comedy: the 1970s police-adjacent humor of "Sanford and Son" and the late-1980s ensemble warmth of "227." His death closes a chapter for viewers who grew up with Lester Jenkins and Officer Smitty on weekly broadcast TV.