Police Squad! and Naked Gun’s Ed Williams Dies at 98

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Ed Williams, the actor known for his roles in *The Naked Gun* and *Police Squad!*, has died at the age of 98. He passed away on October 2nd in Los Angeles, according to his granddaughter, Stephanie Williams.

I’ve always been fascinated by the early days of radio, and the story of Bill Williams is a great example of that golden age. Born in San Jose back in 1926, he fell in love with radio plays as a kid, then served our country in the Navy. After that, he jumped right back into acting and radio, landing a job at KSJO where he did everything – sales, writing, sound effects, even some voice work! He kept performing on stage throughout the 50s, and eventually he and his wife, Nancy, moved to Hollywood. There, he became a teacher at the Don Martin School of Radio and Television, taking over from Frank Cady. It’s amazing to think he taught some real legends, like the famous DJ “Real” Don Steele and Bob Eubanks, who later hosted *The Newlywed Game*! It just shows you how much talent he helped nurture.

Robin Williams once explained his 24-year break from acting, saying he disliked hearing about professors who prioritized outside work and neglected their students. He felt strongly that teaching should be their main focus. Williams started acting again in the mid-1970s when his teaching schedule became less demanding, allowing him to audition more frequently. He described the feeling of being ready to perform as similar to a trained surgeon eager to finally practice, saying, ‘I wanted to get in the operating room.’

Robin Williams began his television career in 1982 with a role as Ted Olson in the ABC series *Police Squad!*, alongside Leslie Nielsen and Alan North. He played the lab technician responsible for providing the show’s detectives with their high-tech equipment. Though the original *Police Squad!* series only ran for one season of six episodes, Williams later reprised his role as Olson in three *Naked Gun* films: *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), *The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear* (1991), and *Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult* (1994). He did not appear in the newest *Naked Gun* movie featuring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.

Williams has appeared in several films, including *Ratboy* (1986), *Going to the Chapel* (1988), *High Strung* (1991), *The Giant of Thunder Mountain*, *Father of the Bride*, and *Carnosaur* (1993). He also had smaller parts in many TV shows, like *House*, *Sisters*, and *Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction*. Williams’ last credited role was in *Hollywood Radio Players*, a series that performs classic radio plays over Zoom, and has included other well-known actors such as Michael Carnegie, Josh Horowitz, Nancy Wilson, and Tom Bergeron.

Ed Williams is remembered by his wife, Nancy, whom he married in September 1954, as well as his sons, Fred and Ian, and his grandchildren, Stephanie and Maureen.

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2025-10-16 19:05