Story perspectives

Actor Hal Williams, ‘227’ Star, Dies at 91

7/16/2026

Summary

Hal Williams Dies

Hal Williams died at his Rancho Mirage, California home on July 16, 2026, aged 91.
He portrayed Officer “Smitty” Smith in 22 Sanford and Son episodes, starred as Lester Jenkins in 227’s 116-episode run, and guest-starred on The Waltons and Matlock.
He appeared in films with George C. Scott, Clint Eastwood and Denzel Washington, founded a scholarship foundation, and served on the Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre board.

Summary

Hal Williams Reunites

Hal Williams and Howard Platt reunited for the “Sanford & Son: The Last Episode Celebration” in Ohio on July 10-11, days before Williams’ death.
The fan-focused event displayed the original police truck, featured a live Q&A, and drew dozens of longtime viewers.
The reunion marked the first appearance of Hal Williams and Howard Platt since the 1980 spinoff series, occurring five days before Hal Williams died at his Rancho Mirage home.

History

Historical Context

When NBC premiered Sanford and Son in 1972, the sitcom starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson became a top-rated series that reshaped prime-time comedy. Produced by Norman Lear, the show amassed 136 episodes and peaked at a 31.5 % household rating during the 1973-74 season. Hal Williams’s July 2026 reunion with Howard Platt echoes that original breakthrough, recalling the 1980 spinoff’s brief run and the actors’ enduring fan devotion. The gathering underscores how the 1970s sitcom’s cultural legacy continues to mobilize nostalgia circuits, prompting foundations like the Hal Williams Scholarship to preserve African-American television heritage.

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Hal Williams Dies

Hal Williams died at his Rancho Mirage, California home on July 16, 2026, aged 91.
He portrayed Officer “Smitty” Smith in 22 Sanford and Son episodes, starred as Lester Jenkins in 227’s 116-episode run, and guest-starred on The Waltons and Matlock.
He appeared in films with George C. Scott, Clint Eastwood and Denzel Washington, founded a scholarship foundation, and served on the Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre board.

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