Oscar winner Regina King is honoring her TV dad.
King posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram to her “227” co-star Hal Williams, who died Wednesday on the age of 91. (Williams performed Lester Jenkins, the daddy of King’s character Brenda.) “I am saddened by the passing of my TV dad, Hal Williams, however so grateful for the numerous years, recollections and particular moments we shared,” her assertion started.
“He lived 91 full years, and I really feel extremely lucky that a few of these years had been shared with me,” she added. “From the time I used to be younger, he gave me a way of security that prolonged far past the work we did collectively. On a set the place there might be a lot noise, gossip and politicking, he sheltered me from a lot of it. He created an area the place I may merely be younger, really feel cared for and do my work.”
She famous that she and Williams shared a particular connection that went past simply taking part in father and daughter: “As a result of my mother and father had been divorced and my very own father wasn’t all the time obtainable, I used to be in a position to share moments with him that meant extra to me than he might ever have identified. I’ll all the time treasure the gentleness, steadiness and love he introduced into my life.”
Plus, she recalled attending to see Williams only recently: “I am particularly grateful that we had been in a position to spend time collectively this previous Christmas. You by no means know when the final time you may see somebody on this life can be, and I’ll maintain that point near my coronary heart. Thanks for being such an exquisite a part of my life. This isn’t goodbye. It is goodbye. I like you. Stay in peace, Dad.”
Williams performed Regina King’s father for 5 seasons on 227
NBC
“227” debuted on NBC in 1985, with “The Jeffersons” alum Marla Gibbs starring as housewife Mary Jenkins, who lived in a boisterous house constructing in Washington, D.C. Hal Williams co-starred as Mary’s husband Lester, with Regina King as their teen daughter Brenda. The present was a gentle performer on NBC, operating for 5 seasons and incomes Jackée Harry an Emmy for finest supporting actress in a comedy for her position as neighbor Sandra. (King went on to have a really profitable performing profession as an grownup, successful an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and 4 Emmys.)
Earlier than “227,” Williams recurred as Officer “Smitty” Smith on the Redd Foxx-led NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son,” later reprising the position on the short-lived spin-off “Sanford.” He additionally starred reverse Goldie Hawn within the 1980 big-screen hit “Personal Benjamin” and reprised that position on the CBS sitcom model of the movie. His different TV roles included “The Waltons,” “The Sinbad Present,” “Magnum, P.I.,” and “Knots Touchdown.”
Gibbs paid tribute to her TV husband in a press release following his loss of life, calling Williams “a beneficiant man who freely gave his time, his expertise, and his coronary heart to the group”: “Hal, thanks to your kindness, your friendship, and the enjoyment you dropped at so many lives. You can be deeply missed.”
