Hal Williams, actor best known for Sanford and Son and 227, dies aged 91

The actor, who also appeared in The Waltons and Private Benjamin, died at his home in California Hal Williams, the actor best known for TV roles in Sanford & Son and 227, has died at the age of 91. His representative confirmed that Williams died on 15 July at his home in California. Williams didn’t start acting until he was in his 30s, after working as a postal worker and a corrections officer before moving to Los Angeles in 1968. The actor was most widely recognised for playing Officer “Smitty” Smith in 22 episodes of Sanford and Son, a sitcom based on British TV series Steptoe and Son. It was adapted by Norman Lear and aired from 1972 to 1977. During production of the show, Williams also continued working an overnight shift at the post office as he didn’t feel “financially able” to give up the job. “I used to go around to the high schools and theater groups and young people,” he said in an interview. “I used to tell them that if your aspirations include mansions and limousines and things like that, be prepared for a lot of rejection because you need to get a degree in something. Overnight sensations usually take 25 years.” Williams also played Lester Jenkins in 227, a sitcom that