Hal Williams, the Officer 'Smitty' Actor from 'Sanford and Son,' Dead at 91 — What His Manager Revealed

The beloved sitcom actor had just returned from a meaningful trip when his manager noticed something was wrong, while his final Instagram post revealed one reunion he had hoped to see.

Hal Williams died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on Wednesday morning, July 15, 2026, at age 91.

Only days earlier, the "Sanford and Son" star had shared an emotional experience with one of the show's last surviving cast members, and a fan who sat beside them had no idea how precious that meeting would soon become.

A Familiar Face Across Five Decades

Williams was best known to many viewers as Officer "Smitty" Smith on "Sanford and Son," the popular 1970s sitcom led by Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford and Demond Wilson, who died in January 2026, as his son, Lamont.

He joined the series during the early years of his television career and quickly proved that he could make an impression even while sharing scenes with performers as commanding as Foxx and Wilson. His easy delivery made Smitty a memorable part of the comedy's world.

Williams moved comfortably between comedy and drama from there. In 1973, he landed the role of Harley Foster on "The Waltons," adding a very different character to his growing résumé.

He later became a sitcom regular again as Lester Jenkins on "227." According to his IMDb credits, Williams appeared in 115 episodes of the series between 1985 and 1990, starring alongside Marla Gibbs, Jackée Harry, Regina King, Alaina Reed Hall, Curtis Baldwin, and others.

His television work extended far beyond those signature roles. Williams appeared in "That Girl," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Cannon," "Police Woman," "Gunsmoke," "Good Times," "Knots Landing," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Webster," "Hill Street Blues," "Magnum P.I.," "Night Court," and "L.A. Law."

He also took roles in "Harry O," "Roots: The Next Generations," "Private Benjamin," and "The Sinbad Show." That range allowed him to remain convincing whether a scene called for warmth, authority, or sharp comic timing.

His movie credits included "Hardcore," "The Rookie," "Percy & Thunder," "Guess Who," and "Flight." He played Sgt. L.C. Ross opposite Goldie Hawn in the 1980 film "Private Benjamin" and later appeared with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac in "Guess Who."

Williams kept working into the 2000s, appearing in the Disney Family Channel production "Snow 2: Brain Freeze" and Hallmark's "Generation Gap" in 2008. Yet his earliest television success remained close to him until his final days.

His Manager Explained His Final Hours

Williams' manager, Zna Portlock Houston, confirmed his death to TMZ on July 16. She said he died of natural causes at his Rancho Mirage home and noted that he had experienced some health issues.

Houston also disclosed an important detail about the two days preceding his death. Williams had returned from Ohio feeling tired after attending a reunion honoring "Sanford and Son."

The trip had brought him together with Howard Platt, who played Officer Howard "Hoppy" Hopkins on the sitcom. With most of the cast now gone, Williams and Platt were recognized at the event as its last two surviving cast members.

That made their appearance together especially meaningful for any fan who attended. It also meant Williams spent one of his final weekends celebrating the show that helped introduce him to a national audience.

A Fan Witnessed the Last Reunion

A fan behind the Instagram account "redd_g_foxx" attended the Ohio gathering and sat beside Williams and Platt. During the event, the actors watched a biographical video the fan had made about them.

For someone who had followed "Sanford and Son" for 35 years, watching the two men view his tribute was an extraordinary experience. On July 13, he shared a reunion post capturing the occasion and wrote, "This moment with the Last Two Surviving cast members of Sanford and Son is one I will never forget 🥹❤️."

At that point, the caption expressed gratitude for a rare meeting. Three days later, it read almost like a farewell no one knew they were witnessing. After learning that Williams had died, the fan posted a photograph of the two of them together on July 16.

His tribute revealed that they had already discussed staying connected and possibly collaborating on something related to the show. He wrote, "I am incredibly sadden [sic] at the news that Hal Williams has passed away 💔 at the age of 91 at his home."

"I just met him for the first time this last weekend and we were going to stay in touch and do some things together with the show 💔"

Still processing how quickly everything had changed, he added, "I’m writing this is shock [sic] and heart broken [sic]…but so thankful that we got to meet and talk before he passed 🙏 I’m so sad now…"

Their plans would never be completed, but Williams had returned to Ohio, reunited with Platt, and heard directly from someone whose admiration had lasted decades. The visit also brought Williams back to the state where his own unlikely Hollywood journey began.

He Risked Everything on an Acting Dream

In 1968, Williams left his home on Brentnell Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, carrying two pistols and a tub of Kentucky Fried Chicken. He climbed into his Pontiac Bonneville and drove west toward California, having told only his parents what he intended to do.

Williams later told the Columbus Dispatch that his social-work career had stalled, his marriage was falling apart, and he was deeply unhappy. Although he was frightened, he knew he might never find the courage again if he delayed.

A divorced father of three, Williams initially left his children with his parents. They joined him in California after he secured a place for them to live.

His interest in performing stretched back to childhood. He entertained himself by acting out adventures with his dog, Sandy, and regularly spent Saturdays watching double features and serials at the Empress Theater on Columbus' East Side.

Williams later attended Franklin Junior High and East High School, where he ran track and performed in musicals. After graduating, he worked with young people at Franklin Village and in the juvenile detention system before deciding to pursue acting.

Once in Los Angeles, actress Maidie Ruth Norman advised him to check "The Hollywood Reporter" and "Variety" for auditions. That guidance led him to his first play, where an agent asked whether he had considered commercials.

Williams soon booked three national advertisements. By the early 1970s, he was appearing in several television productions while still working nights at a Los Angeles post office, so his days were free for auditions.

He concealed some filming absences by claiming he was handling family matters in Ohio. Williams would place his written requests in mail bound for Columbus, so they came back bearing an Ohio postmark.

The arrangement collapsed after the postmaster spotted him wearing a police uniform on "Sanford and Son." Williams was told to choose between delivering mail and becoming an actor, so he quit the post office and chose Hollywood.

Decades later, he said he wanted to continue acting until his last day.

His Final Post Held One More Wish

Williams' last Instagram post arrived in December 2022. Rather than looking backward, he appeared excited about a possible return to a beloved television family.

Alongside a red-carpet photograph with members of the "227" cast, he wrote, "Love my #227 crew! @jackeeharry @iamreginaking @marlagibbs4real Feeling a reunion!"

No later post followed. His final public message was a wish to reunite with old castmates, and one of his final trips gave him a reunion with Platt instead.

Williams once left Ohio unsure whether he could build an acting career at all. He returned nearly six decades later as the familiar television figure he had dreamed of becoming, spending his final weekend beside a former castmate and a fan who had waited 35 years to meet him.