Sitcom '227' star Hal Williams passes away at 91
Washington DC, July 16
Hal Williams, the TV veteran who appeared in American sitcom staples like '227' and 'Sanford and Son,' has passed away at the age of 91, according to his manager, reported Variety.
Sitcom '227' 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 was husband to Marla Gibbs' Mary Jenkins and father to Regina King's Brenda Jenkins.
'227' aired for 116 episodes across five seasons on NBC. Series star Jackee 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.
Williams appeared in 22 episodes of 'Sanford and Son' as Officer 'Smitty' Smith. The character was part of a duo with Howard Platt's Officer "Hoppy" 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 layman's terms, reported Variety.
In a recent interview with WKYC, as quoted by Variety, Williams explained how the Smitty and Hoppy gag came to be: "We 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 didn't have anything solid. [The producers would then say,] 'Go out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back.'"
Williams' other TV credits include "On the Rocks," "The Waltons," "Private Benjamin" and "The Sinbad Show." His most recent TV role was on CBS' "Matlock" remake. On the film side, Williams appeared in "Hardcore," "The Rookie," "Percy & Thunder," "Guess Who", and "Flight."
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an American who grew up watching reruns of '227', this hits differently. Hal Williams brought so much warmth to the Jenkins family. The comedy was gentle but real.
For a generation of Indian viewers who discovered these shows on Zee Café or Star World in the 90s, this is nostalgic. Hal Williams was the quintessential 'cool dad' of TV. The Smitty-Hoppy dynamic was pure gold. Rest well sir!
Should we take a moment to appreciate how well-written those 80s sitcoms were? 116 episodes of '227' with genuine character arcs. Hal Williams' Lester was a steady anchor. Much respect.
Oh no 😢 I remember watching '227' with my grandma in the 80s. Hal Williams had such a gentle presence. Also loved him opposite Denzel in 'Flight'. A true working actor's actor.
Respect to a man who made his mark in an era when opportunities were limited. The 'Sanford and Son' bit about improvising on the spot is a masterclass in comedy craft. 'Go out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back' — legendary.
Just yesterday I was watching a clip from '227'
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