'Sanford and Son' TV Star Hal Williams Worked Night Shifts at the Post Office While Filming

Hal Williams, who played Officer "Smitty" Smith on the popular 1970s TV comedy "Sanford and Son," died on 15 July 2026 at age 91 in Rancho Mirage, California. No cause was given. Even while the show was a hit, Williams kept working overnight post office shifts because he could not afford to stop — showing how even TV actors struggled financially.