Hal Williams, 'Sanford and Son' and '227' actor, dies at 91

Hal Williams, a seasoned histrion known for his roles arsenic a affable vicinity constabulary serviceman connected “Sanford and Son” and a hard-working patriarch connected “227,” has died. He was 91.

Williams died Wednesday greeting astatine his location successful Rancho Mirage, his typical Zna Portlock Houston told The Times successful an email connected Thursday.

“Hal Williams is legendary for his acting skills, his compassion and his assemblage engagement,” Houston wrote, describing the histrion arsenic “an icon and a existent professional.” “He ne'er turned distant a fan. He was ever embraced truthful warmly, similar helium was genuinely their ain family, due to the fact that helium was a taste touchstone who represented an representation of Black fatherhood that was loving and steadfast. Offscreen helium was a dependable advisor, lively debater and devoted friend.”

His decease follows a caller travel to Ohio celebrating his enactment connected the NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son,” connected which helium portrayed Officer “Smitty” Smith from 1972 to 1977.

In 1 of his last tv interviews conscionable days anterior to his death, Williams spoke astir 1 of the show’s recurring bits, which saw his quality construe his spouse Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins’ (Howard Platt) constabulary speech into a vernacular that Fred (Redd Foxx) and Lamont Sanford (Demond Wilson) could understand.

“A batch of the worldly we created ourselves disconnected camera and enactment it successful the script,” Williams said erstwhile helium appeared with Platt connected a greeting quality amusement connected Cleveland’s Fox 8. “A batch of the times, they didn’t person jokes successful the publication … due to the fact that they didn’t cognize the jargon from the Black community.”

Born Halroy Candis Williams connected Dec. 14, 1938, successful Columbus, Ohio, Williams was moving arsenic a juvenile corrections serviceman erstwhile helium decided to prosecute his dreams of becoming an actor. He took the plunge and headed to Hollywood successful 1968.

“I gave myself 3 years successful California to spot what I could do,” Williams told Fox 8. “And astatine the extremity of the 3 years I was connected ‘Sanford and Son,’ ‘The Waltons’ and ‘Harry O.’ ”

Williams became a regular tv presence, appearing connected shows specified arsenic “Kung Fu,” “Good Times,” “Roots: The Next Generation,” “The Jeffersons,” “Magnum P.I.” and “The Sinbad Show” implicit the years.

Besides his breakout relation of Officer Smitty successful “Sanford and Son,” which helium reprised successful its follow-up, “Sanford,” Williams is possibly champion known for starring arsenic Lester Jenkins, the hubby of Marla Gibbs’ Mary Jenkins, successful the NBC sitcom “227.” The show, which aired from 1985 to 1990, was notable for the portrayal of its middle-class Black family.

“ ‘227’ benignant of acceptable the barroom a small higher due to the fact that it was a wholly intact family,” Williams told the “Today” amusement successful 2020. “It was a mother, father, girl and they were precise positive. There were precise fewer negatives. It addressed each kinds of societal issues and it gave oncoming shows the accidental to research caller avenues and caller issues comfortably due to the fact that the networks and accumulation companies were unfastened to that benignant of a transportation idea.”

Gibbs took to societal media Thursday to stock a tribute to her “TV husband,” who she described arsenic “a generous antheral who freely gave his time, his endowment and his bosom to the community.”

“Our travel unneurotic began agelong earlier 227 came to television,” Gibbs wrote connected Instagram. “Hal was portion of the archetypal signifier accumulation astatine our Crossroads Theater. ... Hal was ever determination to help. He adjacent secured donated theatre seats and helped signifier the seating illustration due to the fact that helium believed successful supporting young artists.”

“When 227 became a tv series, I fought to marque definite my quality had a husband. I’m truthful gladsome I did,” she added. “Hal, Regina King and I became a tv household that showed the love, spot and stableness of a Black household for 5 fantastic seasons. ... Even aft the amusement ended, Hal ne'er stopped checking connected me.”

Actor Jackée Harry, who portrayed the Jenkins’ young neighbour Sandra Clark successful “227,” was besides among those who shared tributes to Williams connected societal media.

“What a gentleman. Hal ever carried himself with grace, and helium ever had maine laughing,” Harry wrote Wednesday connected Instagram. “He was besides a stand-up feline who believed Black fathers connected TV should beryllium loving, contiguous and compassionate. He helped amusement America what that looked like.”

“For arsenic agelong arsenic I tin remember, Hal has been a steady, comforting beingness connected our tv screens,” Holly Robinson Peete wrote successful her Instagram tribute Thursday. “His lukewarm smile, crisp comedic timing, benignant tone and gentle vigor made him consciousness similar household to truthful galore of us. … Rest successful peace, Hal. … You were 1 of the greats … a existent tv legend, but an adjacent greater quality being.”

Williams astir precocious appeared arsenic Autry successful a mates episodes of CBS’ “Matlock” reboot.

His survivors see his 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Williams was predeceased by 1 son.