{"id":4935,"date":"2026-07-20T05:36:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4935"},"modified":"2026-07-20T05:36:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:36:06","slug":"actor-hal-williams-star-of-sitcom-227-and-private-benjamin-has-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4935","title":{"rendered":"Actor Hal Williams, star of sitcom \u2018227\u2019 and \u2018Private Benjamin\u2019 has died"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Actor Hal Williams died July 15 at his home in Rancho Mirage. He died of natural causes at the age of 91.<\/p>\n

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Williams is perhaps best known for his role as Lester Jenkins in the NBC sitcom \u201c227,\u201d which ran from 1985-1990. He also had a memorable role as Officer \u201cSmitty\u201d Smith in \u201cSanford and Son\u201d and its spinoff \u201cSanford.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams\u2019 55-year television and movie career also included parts in \u201cPrivate Benjamin,\u201d \u201cThe Waltons,\u201d \u201cHerbie Rides Again,\u201d \u201cNight Court\u201d and \u201cThe Sinbad Show.\u201d His last acting role was in the current incarnation of \u201cMatlock.\u201d<\/p>\n

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His \u201c227\u201d wife Marla Gibbs remembered her co-star on Instagram.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 227 became a television series, I fought to make sure my character had a husband. I\u2019m so glad I did. Hal, Regina King, and I became a television family that showed the love, strength, and stability of a Black family for five wonderful seasons. But what I treasured most was our friendship,\u201d her statement continues. \u201cEven after the show ended, Hal never stopped checking on me. We talked just a couple of weeks ago, laughing, and carrying on like we always did\u2026 we still call each other Mary and Lester after all the years. I never imagined it would be our last conversation. Hal, thank you for your kindness, your friendship, and the joy you brought to so many lives. You will be deeply missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201c227\u201d star Jack\u00e9e Harry also remembered Williams on Instagram.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Williams also had a memorable role as Officer “Smitty” Smith in “Sanford and Son” and its spinoff “Sanford.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do"],"yoast_head":"\nActor Hal Williams, star of sitcom \u2018227\u2019 and \u2018Private Benjamin\u2019 has died - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4935\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Actor Hal Williams, star of sitcom \u2018227\u2019 and \u2018Private Benjamin\u2019 has died - 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