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 was born and 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.

Williams began pursuing his acting career full-time in 1970. In 1973 he appeared as a guest star on the television series Kung Fu, playing a friend of Caine named Caleb in the second season premiere. In 1975 he reprised the role in the 24th episode of the third season.

Willams has appeared in movies such as Paul Schrader's Hardcore, Howard Zieff's Private Benjamin. He woud reprise the role of Sgt L.C. "Ted" Ross in the television series of the same name. In 1990 he appeared in 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.

Williams portrayed Howard Jones, the father to Bernie Mac's character, in the 2005 film Guess Who.

In 2024 Williams played Autry in the second episode of the TV series Matlock, and reprised the role the following year in the series' tenth episode.