Hal Williams

Halroy Candis Williams (born December 14, 1938) is an American actor, best known for his recurring roles as Police Officer Smith ("Smitty") on Sanford and Son (1972–1976), Harley Foster on The Waltons (1973-1980), and as the patriarch Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs's character, on the NBC sitcom 227 which originally aired from 1985 until 1990. His film credits include Private Benjamin (1980), Guess Who (2005), and Flight (2012).

Hal Williams
Williams at The Waltons' 40th anniversary, 2012
Born
Halroy Candis Williams

(1938-12-14) December 14, 1938
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1968–present
Known forLester Jenkins – 227
Smitty – Sanford and Son
Spouse(s)
Gay Anderson
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1976)​

Renee W. Himes
​
​
(m. 1978; div. 1984)​
Children3

Biography

Born Halroy Candis Williams on December 14, 1938[1][2][3]), Williams was raised in Columbus, Ohio. In the early 1960s, Williams began acting in community theater in Ohio. Williams worked as a postal worker and corrections officer before moving to Hollywood to pursue an acting career in 1968.[4]

Williams began pursuing his acting career full-time in 1970. Since then, Willams has appeared in movies such as Paul Schrader's Hardcore, Howard Zieff's Private Benjamin (he also portrayed the role of Sgt L.C. "Ted" Ross in the television series of the same name), and Clint Eastwood's The Rookie. In the early to mid-1990s, he starred in many of comic Sinbad's productions, including The Sinbad Show and The Cherokee Kid. In one of his latest films, Williams portrayed the grandfather in the Bernie Mac film Guess Who which was released in 2005.

Personal life

Williams has been married twice and has three children. On April 11, 1975, Williams married Gay Anderson, they later divorced in November 1976.

Selected credits

Theater
Year Production Role Theater(s) Notes
1981Nevis Mountain DewBoise McCanlesLos Angeles Actors Theatre

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1972Cool BreezeHarry, PolicemanUncredited
1974Herbie Rides AgainTicketing Police Officer
1979HardcoreBig Dick Blaque
1980On the NickelPaul
1980Private BenjaminSergeant L.C. Ross
1982The Escape ArtistCop At Mayor's Office
1990The RookieDetective Powell
1996The Cherokee KidReverend Peel
2005Guess WhoHoward Jones
2011Night ClubResident Playing Cards At Casino Night
2012FlightWhip's DadVoice

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1971That GirlHerbie Robinson2 Episodes
1972–1976Sanford and SonOfficer 'Smitty' Smith20 episodes
1973Kung FuCaleb BrownSeason 2, Episode 1 - "The Well"
1973-1980The WaltonsHarley Foster7 episodes
1975GunsmokeWidgeSeason 14, Episode 20 - "Hard Labor"
1975S.W.A.T.Bo TateSeason 1, Episode 12 - "Sole Survivor"
1975-1976On the RocksLester DeMott24 episodes
1977Quincy, M.E.CodySeason 2, Episode 9 - "The Hot Dog Murder"
1979Roots: The Next GenerationsAleck HaleySeason 1, Episode 3 - "Part III (1914-1918)"
1979What's Happening!!Mr. LoganSeason 3, Episode 17 - "The Eviction"
1979The White ShadowHenry JuddSeason 2, Episode 3 - "Sudden Death"
1980Knots LandingMagazine Owner2 episodes
1980-1981SanfordOfficer 'Smitty' Smith5 episodes
1982TJ HookerOfficer BryanSeason 1, Episode 1 - "The Protectors"
1981–1983Private BenjaminSergeant Ted Ross39 episodes
1984The Dukes of HazzardJonas JonesSeason 6, Episode 21 - "Cooter's Confession"
1984WebsterPrincipal JenkinsSeason 2, Episode 2 - "Webster Long: Part 3"
1984The JeffersonsKent TobinSeason 11, Episode 5 - "Some Enchanted Evening"
1984Gimme a Break!Dr. Phil GraySeason 4, Episode 10 - "Julie's Lie"
1985–1990227Lester Jenkins115 episodes
1986Hill Street BluesKen EdwardsSeason 6, Episode 15 - "I Want My Hill Street Blues"
1988Magnum, P.I.Dave, the DJ2 episodes
1993-1994The Sinbad ShowRudy Bryan18 episodes
2019A Black Lady Sketch ShowHimselfSeason 1, Episode 3 - "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade"

References
  1. Hal Williams (1938-), Historical Dictionary of African American Theater, By Anthony D. Hill, 2018
  2. Television Guest Stars, An Illustrated Career Chronicle for 678 Performers of the Sixties and Seventies, By Jack Ward · 1993
  3. On This Date A DayByDay Look at Historic, By Brian Merrill · 2006
  4. "Small role led Hal Williams to big part on NBC's hit '227'". Frederick News Post. Associated Press. 3 September 1987. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
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