Hal Williams’ career spanned over half a century in television, marked From his early days as Officer Smitty on ‘Sanford & Son’ to his later role as Lester Jenkins in ‘227,’ Williams established himself as a staple of American sitcoms.

In an interview with Antenna TV , Williams explained that he initially refused to do scenes in a dress or in his underwear, because he felt it was culturally inappropriate for Lester, a child of the '50s.

Best Williams Facts Details and Timeline

However, Williams ultimately agreed to the bit.

Hal Williams remains one of television's most quietly influential character actors, a familiar face whose warmth and presence helped define multiple eras of sitcom history. Rising to prominence during the 1970s, Williams' first breakout role came as Officer Smitty on "Sanford and Son," where his deadpan delivery made him an instant fan favorite.

A decade later, he cemented his place in TV history as Lester Jenkins on "227," bringing heart, humor, and charm to one of the era's most beloved ensemble family comedies. His career never slowed; Williams continued working steadily for more than five decades, ultimately giving his final performance in 2025 as Autry Tucker on the gender‑swapped reboot of "Matlock."

In a 2022 interview with Columbus Monthly , Williams reflected on his longevity with characteristic humility. "I've prided myself on choosing a profession where you don't have to stop working. You just get older as you work," he said.

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That philosophy guided a career that began somewhat unexpectedly in his 30s, when he left Columbus, Ohio after a divorce and headed to Los Angeles to pursue acting. More than 100 film and TV credits followed, including memorable roles in films such as "Private Benjamin" and "Guess Who."

Though Williams sadly died in July 2026 , his legacy lives on through his five best TV shows, ranked below.

Best Williams Facts Next Steps and Impact

From the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" to "Family Matters," the '90s were a peak time for Black sitcoms. Perhaps a lesser known one was Fox's "The Sinbad Show," starring popular standup comedian Sinbad as David Bryan, a man who adopts two kids, Zana and LJ (played Hal Williams plays Sinbad's father, Rudy Bryan; his dry humor and excellent comedic timing makes him the perfect TV granddad.

Williams appeared in 20 episodes of the series.

"The Sinbad Show" was canceled after one season, which caused a bit of controversy at the time due to Fox canceling multiple other Black-led series, including "In Living Color" and "South Central." Fox's official position was that the cancellations were specifically due to low ratings, but the network did face criticism from activists and diversity organizations.