TVLine Ranks Hal Williams' Five Best TV Roles
TVLine has ranked the five best TV shows from the late actor Hal Williams, whose career spanned over five decades.
Topping the list is "227," where Williams played Lester Jenkins opposite Marla Gibbs. According to TVLine, his comedic chemistry with Gibbs was "immaculate." The actor once recalled in an interview that his favorite episode involved him wearing a purple dress and hat to disguise himself as a woman, a bit he initially resisted.
Second place goes to his role as Officer "Smitty" Smith on "Sanford and Son." Williams told WKYC in a 2026 interview that a famous bit involving police jargon with his partner was improvised in rehearsal and later written into the show.
The TV spin-off of "Private Benjamin" ranks third, with Williams playing Sgt. Ross, a role he also played in the original film. The outlet notes he excelled at mixing humor with authority.
Fourth is the 1975 ABC sitcom "On the Rocks," where Williams played inmate Lester Demott. The show, an adaptation of the British series "Porridge," aired for only one season and is now considered largely lost media.
Rounding out the list at number five is Fox's "The Sinbad Show," where Williams played Rudy Bryan, the father to Sinbad's character. The series was canceled after one season, which TVLine reports caused controversy at the time alongside other cancellations of Black-led shows.
