Hal Williams: key obituary facts
Is Hal Williams dead? Yes. Hal Williams died on July 15, 2026, at age 91.
Cause of death: Hal Williams's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Hal Williams known for?
He was an American actor.
More about Hal Williams
Born: 14 December 1938.
Place of birth: Columbus.
Gender: male.
Occupation: actor, television actor.
Nationality: United States.
Also known as: Halroy Candis Williams.
Years active: 1968–2024.
Known for: Lester Jenkins – 227Smitty – Sanford and Son Dick Blaque - Hardcore.
Hal Williams, the American actor known for roles on Sanford and Son, The Waltons and 227, died on July 15, 2026.
Born Halroy Candis Williams in Columbus, Ohio, on December 14, 1938, he began acting in community theater in Ohio before moving to Hollywood in 1968 after working as a postal worker and corrections officer. Over a career that stretched from 1968 to 2024, he became widely recognized as Police Officer Smith, or “Smitty,” on Sanford and Son, Harley Foster on The Waltons and Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs’s character, on 227.
His film credits included Private Benjamin, Guess Who and Flight.