Hal Williams

Halroy Candis Williams (born December 14, 1938) is an American actor, best known for his recurring role as Police Officer Smith ("Smitty") on Sanford and Son (1972–76) and as the patriarch Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs's character, on the NBCsitcom 227 (1985–90).
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Williams worked as a postal worker and corrections officer before moving to Hollywood to pursue an acting career.[1]
Williams started in the acting business in 1969. Since then, he 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. He was controversially fired from The Jimmy Stewart Show in 1971 at the insistence of its star, James Stewart.[2] In the early to mid-1990s, he starred in many of comic Sinbad's productions, including The Sinbad Show and The Cherokee Kid. He played the grandfather in the Bernie Mac film Guess Who.
His other television credits include Moonlight, Moesha, Suddenly Susan, Minor Adjustments, L.A. Law, Night Court, Magnum, P.I., Hill Street Blues, Gimme a Break, The Jeffersons, The Dukes of Hazzard, T.J. Hooker, The Waltons, Knots Landing, The White Shadow, What's Happening!!, Good Times, Quincy, M.E., Kung Fu, S.W.A.T., Gunsmoke, That Girl, and Sanford and Son.
Williams is also the host of the annual Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation nationally televised telethon.
== Selected credits ==
=== Theater ===
Year	Production 	Role 	Theater(s) 	Notes
1981	Nevis Mountain Dew	Boise McCanles	Los Angeles Actors Theatre	
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1972	Cool Breeze 	Harry, Policeman 	Uncredited
1974	Herbie Rides Again	 	
1979	Hardcore 	Big Dick Blaque 	
1980	On the Nickel 	Paul 	
1980	Private Benjamin 	Sgt. L.C. Ross 	
1982	The Escape Artist 	Cop at Mayor's Office 	
1990	The Rookie 	Powell 	
2005	Guess Who 	Howard Jones 	
2011	Night Club 	Resident Playing Cards at Casino Night	
2012	Flight 	Whip's Dad 	Voice