{"id":7877,"date":"2026-07-16T18:24:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=7877"},"modified":"2026-07-16T18:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:24:20","slug":"hal-williams-dead-at-91-sanford-and-son-regular-and-the-waltons-star-passes-away-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=7877","title":{"rendered":"Hal Williams dead at 91: Sanford and Son regular and The Waltons star passes away in California"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Veteran actor Hal Williams, best known for his role on 70s sitcom Sanford and Son, has died aged 91.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Williams, who notably played\u00a0Officer &#8216;Smitty&#8217; Smith on the show from 1972-1976, passed away on Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage, <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/news\/california\/index.html\" id=\"mol-03141c00-8112-11f1-8ca3-9748b23854e3\">California<\/a>, his representative confirmed to <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/07\/hal-williams-actor-dead-sanford-and-son-1236983727\/\">Deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">His cause of death is not yet known.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">As Officer Smitty, Williams helped push boundaries with one of television\u2019s earliest Black-led sitcoms. The show starred\u00a0Redd Foxx as Fred G. Sanford, a widower and junk dealer living in Los Angeles and Grady Demond Wilson as his son Lamont Sanford.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Williams&#8217; onscreen police partner was Officer &#8216;Hoppy&#8217; Hopkins &#8211; played by Howard Platt &#8211; with the pair famed for their skits showing Hoppy starting a scene with a complex police explanation of an investigation before Smitty would give a simpler version.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Williams previously told WKYC that the idea for the characters&#8217; signature scenes was created in rehearsal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-ce5a0d6c8be43018\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/13\/110060375-15982273-image-a-1_1784205253656.jpg\" height=\"645\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Veteran actor Hal Williams, best known for his role on 70s sitcom Sanford and Son, has died aged 91 - pictured 1982\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Veteran actor Hal Williams, best known for his role on 70s sitcom Sanford and Son, has died aged 91 &#8211; pictured 1982<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-1faa074a483e5ca7\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/13\/110060367-15982273-image-a-11_1784205306887.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Williams, who notably played Officer &quot;Smitty&quot; Smith on the show from 1972-1976, passed away on Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California , his representative confirmed to Deadline - pictured with Howard Platt and Red Foxx in the show\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Williams, who notably played Officer &#8220;Smitty&#8221; Smith on the show from 1972-1976, passed away on Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California , his representative confirmed to Deadline &#8211; pictured with Howard Platt and Red Foxx in the show\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He said, &#8216;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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Some days, we would come to rehearsal and they didn\u2019t have anything solid. [So the producers would say,] &#8220;Go out, take a break for two hours, and bring us something back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Williams would reprise his role as Smitty on\u00a0five episodes of NBC\u2019s Sanford in 1980.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He also starred as Lester Jenkins in show 227, which ran from 1985-1990.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Williams also appeared on shows including\u00a0\u00a0Police Story, Quincy M.E, Knots Landing, The Waltons, The Dukes of Hazzard, Hill Street Blues and Magnum P.I.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He recently played local resident Autry on Matlock with Kathy Bates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">His film appearances include Hardcore,\u00a0alongside Clint Eastwood in The Rookie and playing\u00a0Denzel Washington\u2019s father in Flight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The actor is survived by two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">His son Mark, who was a broadcasting major, died on a camping trip in the Angeles National Forest at 20 years old in 1977.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In honor of his son, Williams established the Mark K.A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which funds degrees in<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0Film-making, Broadcasting, Telecommunications or any of the Performing Arts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Williams&#8217; death comes five months after the passing of Wilson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The beloved actor passed away in January at his home in Palm Springs, <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/editors\/article\/:11000\/news\/california\/index.html\" id=\"mol-b9d938e0-feb2-11f0-9e03-1d8c5fe4bc94\" title=\"This link is invalid, and will be stripped on publish\">California<\/a>, following complications related to <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/editors\/article\/:11000\/news\/cancer\/index.html\" id=\"mol-b9d149a0-feb2-11f0-9e03-1d8c5fe4bc94\" title=\"This link is invalid, and will be stripped on publish\">cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-7758f7fa61a4a22c\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/13\/110060403-15982273-image-a-17_1784205625658.jpg\" height=\"951\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Williams is seen with Marla Gibbs in 227 in 1985\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Williams is seen with Marla Gibbs in 227 in 1985<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-d2075785b836740c\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/13\/110060389-15982273-image-a-18_1784206137867.jpg\" height=\"951\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The actor is seen in his final public appearance at the\u00a0ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The actor is seen in his final public appearance at the\u00a0ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-3a77c45ecd90b48f\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/13\/110060377-15982273-image-a-19_1784206469621.jpg\" height=\"951\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Williams is seen in 1975 in series On The Rocks\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Williams is seen in 1975 in series On The Rocks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-834e041c036e5117\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/14\/110060365-15982273-image-a-20_1784207362283.jpg\" height=\"826\" width=\"634\" alt=\"His son Mark, who was a broadcasting major, died on a camping trip in the Angeles National Forest at 20 years old in 1977\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">His son Mark, who was a broadcasting major, died on a camping trip in the Angeles National Forest at 20 years old in 1977<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">His son, Demond Wilson Jr., confirmed the news to <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/01\/31\/grady-demond-wilson-dead-sanford-and-son\/\">TMZ<\/a>, though he did not disclose the specific type of cancer his father had been battling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I loved him. He was a great man,&#8217; Demond Jr. told the outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">After the show\u2019s success, he went on to headline several television projects, including a lead role on the short-lived sitcom Baby\u2026 I\u2019m Back!.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Veteran actor Hal Williams, best known for his role on 70s sitcom Sanford and Son, has died aged 91. Williams, who notably played\u00a0Officer &#8216;Smitty&#8217; Smith on the show from 1972-1976, passed away on Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, his representative confirmed to Deadline. His cause of death is not yet known. As&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/16\/13\/110060375-15982273-image-a-1_1784205253656.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}