Overview
- Williams died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, and his passing was confirmed by his representative; he is survived by two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
- No medical cause of death was included in the representative’s statement, although TMZ quoted his manager saying he died of natural causes and mentioning recent health issues.
- He built a roughly 55‑year career as a steady supporting player on television and film, most notably as Officer “Smitty” Smith on Sanford and Son and as Lester Jenkins on 227.
- Williams appeared as Smitty in 22 episodes of Sanford and Son and starred as Lester Jenkins throughout 227’s five‑season run, and he made two late‑career guest turns on the Kathy Bates Matlock reboot.
- Beyond acting, he served on the Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre board and founded the Mark K. A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Foundation in memory of his son, and tributes from colleagues and fans have begun circulating.