‘Another difficult loss’: Marla Gibbs, Regina King and Jackée Harry deliver heartfelt tributes to late ‘227’ co-star Hal Williams
The trio starred on the hit sitcom for five seasons, but their relationship began well before helping craft one of the ’80s most beloved television shows.
As tributes pour in for late actor Hal Williams, few hit harder than the one crafted by his ‘227’ co-star Marla Gibbs.
On Instagram on Thursday, Gibbs penned a lengthy remembrance for Williams, who passed away at his California home on July 15.
“This is another difficult loss,” she began. “My dear friend and TV husband, Hal Williams, has made his transition.”
She continued, “Our journey together began long before 227 came to television. Hal was part of the original stage production at our Crossroads Theater. My daughter Angela and her partner, Shay Wafer, produced the play, and Hal was always there to help. He even secured donated theater seats and helped organize the seating chart because he believed in supporting young artists. That’s just who Hal was, a generous man who freely gave his time, his talent, and his heart to the community.”
Williams and Gibbs became one of the more beloved TV couples on “227,” helping raise a young Regina King in her first television role. The 95-year-old Gibbs thanked Williams mostly for his friendship and that even after the show ended, his connection with her didn’t.
“Hal never stopped checking on me,” she wrote. “We talked just a couple of weeks ago, laughing and carrying on like we always did…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. Sending prayers for your soul to be in the Light of God, for his whole family and everyone who loved him.”
King echoed Gibbs’ thoughts on Williams, writing on Instagram, “Because my parents were divorced and my own father wasn’t always available, I was able to share moments with him that meant more to me than he may ever have known. I will always treasure the gentleness, steadiness and love he brought into my life.”
In her tribute, Jackée Harry, who was the first Black woman to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for portraying Sandra Clark in “227,” called Williams a “gentleman” who “always carried himself with grace” and was a stand-up guy who believed “Black fathers on TV should be loving, present, and compassionate. He helped show America what that looked like.”
Williams came to define two notable Black sitcoms in his career. He portrayed Officer “Smitty” Smith on the original “Sanford and Son” and also on the spin-off series, “Sanford.” Over the course of his career, he made numerous guest appearances on shows such as “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons,” “Hill Street Blues,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Night Court,” and “Moesha,” among others.
His death is the second notable one for “Sanford and Son” fans. In January, Grady Demond Wilson, the actor who portrayed Lamont on the hit TV show, passed away at the age of 79.