Hal Williams has died. The US actor, who became known through the cult series "Sanford and Son", passed away on Wednesday (July 15) at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 91 years old. His manager Zna Portlock Houston confirmed this to various US media outlets. Williams died of natural causes, she told "TMZ". Williams had reportedly been struggling with health problems.
Just two weeks before his death, Williams had traveled to Ohio. There he celebrated a reunion with his former "Sanford and Son" colleague Howard Platt, who played Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins in the series. After returning, the actor felt exhausted, according to his manager.
From prison guard to TV star
Williams' path to acting was anything but straightforward. Before his breakthrough as an actor, he worked as a prison guard and postal worker. In 1968, he moved from Ohio to Los Angeles to pursue his acting dream. The plan worked: In 1972, Williams landed his first major role as Officer "Smitty" Smith in "Sanford and Son". In the sitcom, he starred alongside comedy legend Redd Foxx (1922-1991) and Demond Wilson (1946-2026).
He also became known to US TV audiences through his role as Harley Foster in the series "Die Waltons". The sitcom "227" marked another important milestone in his career. In it, he portrayed family man Lester Jenkins. He appeared on camera as a married couple alongside Marla Gibbs (95).
However, he didn't just appear in TV series, but was also seen on the big screen. He filmed the comedy "Schütze Benjamin" with Goldie Hawn (80). This was followed by roles in films like Clint Eastwood's (96) "Rookie - Der Anfänger" and the drama "Flight" with Denzel Washington (71).
According to industry publication "Deadline", Williams leaves behind two children and three grandchildren. His son Mark predeceased him.
