Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Hal Williams Final Interview 4 Days Before Deathđđ
Hal Williams, the TV veteran who appeared in American sitcom staples like â227â and âSanford and Son,â has died, according to his manager. He was 91.
â227â ran from 1985 to 1990, and followed a group of middle-aged tenants living together in an apartment building. Williams starred as Lester Jenkins, who, in the show, was husband to Marla Gibbsâ Mary Jenkins and father to Regina Kingâs Brenda Jenkins. â227â aired 116 episodes across five seasons on NBC. Series star JackĂ©e Harry won an Emmy for best supporting actress for her work on the show in 1987. Other cast members included Helen Martin, Alaina Reed-Hall and Curtis Baldwin.
From 1985-1990, Williams was a key part of 227, on which he played Lester Jenkins. That show was a cultural touchstone as the only other Black middle class family series on at the time besides Coby. The star-studded cast included Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Regina King, Jackée Harry, Paul Winfield and others.
Throughout his 55-year career, Williams earned guest appearances on TV staples such as That Girl, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Cannon, Police Woman, Gunsmoke, Police Story, Quincy M.E, 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 and Parks and Recreation.
Williams appeared in 22 episodes of âSanford and Sonâ as Officer âSmittyâ Smith. The character was part of a duo with Howard Plattâs Officer âHoppyâ Hopkins. The pair had a recurring bit where Hopkins would lead by outlining a case with complicated police jargon, and it would be up to Smith to spell it all out again in laymanâs terms.
In a recent interview with WKYC, Williams explained how the Smitty and Hoppy gag came to be: âWe did it in one time in rehearsal and the producers thought it was funny. We did it in the first or second episode and it clicked. Some days, we would come to rehearsal and they didnât have anything solid. [The producers would then say,] âGo out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back.ââ
Williamsâ other TV credits include âOn the Rocks,â âThe Waltons,â âPrivate Benjaminâ and âThe Sinbad Show.â His most recent TV role was on CBSâ âMatlockâ remake. On the film side, Williams appeared in âHardcore,â âThe Rookie,â âPercy & Thunder,â âGuess Whoâ and âFlight.â
Rest in power king
#halwilliamsdies
#halwilliansdeath
#halwilliams227
#halwillianssanfordandson
#sanfordandsoncast
#sanfordandson
Hal Williams Final Interview 4 Days Before Deathđđ
Hal Williams, the TV veteran who appeared in American sitcom staples like â227â and âSanford and Son,â has died, according to his manager. He was 91.
â227â ran from 1985 to 1990, and followed a group of middle-aged tenants living together in an apartment building. Williams starred as Lester Jenkins, who, in the show, was husband to Marla Gibbsâ Mary Jenkins and father to Regina Kingâs Brenda Jenkins. â227â aired 116 episodes across five seasons on NBC. Series star JackĂ©e Harry won an Emmy for best supporting actress for her work on the show in 1987. Other cast members included Helen Martin, Alaina Reed-Hall and Curtis Baldwin.
From 1985-1990, Williams was a key part of 227, on which he played Lester Jenkins. That show was a cultural touchstone as the only other Black middle class family series on at the time besides Coby. The star-studded cast included Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Regina King, Jackée Harry, Paul Winfield and others.
Throughout his 55-year career, Williams earned guest appearances on TV staples such as That Girl, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Cannon, Police Woman, Gunsmoke, Police Story, Quincy M.E, 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 and Parks and Recreation.
Williams appeared in 22 episodes of âSanford and Sonâ as Officer âSmittyâ Smith. The character was part of a duo with Howard Plattâs Officer âHoppyâ Hopkins. The pair had a recurring bit where Hopkins would lead by outlining a case with complicated police jargon, and it would be up to Smith to spell it all out again in laymanâs terms.
In a recent interview with WKYC, Williams explained how the Smitty and Hoppy gag came to be: âWe did it in one time in rehearsal and the producers thought it was funny. We did it in the first or second episode and it clicked. Some days, we would come to rehearsal and they didnât have anything solid. [The producers would then say,] âGo out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back.ââ
Williamsâ other TV credits include âOn the Rocks,â âThe Waltons,â âPrivate Benjaminâ and âThe Sinbad Show.â His most recent TV role was on CBSâ âMatlockâ remake. On the film side, Williams appeared in âHardcore,â âThe Rookie,â âPercy & Thunder,â âGuess Whoâ and âFlight.â
Rest in power king
#halwilliamsdies
#halwilliansdeath
#halwilliams227
#halwillianssanfordandson
#sanfordandsoncast
#sanfordandson
