Ed Williams, who starred in Naked Gun, died earlier this month at the age of 98, his granddaughter Stephanie Williams has confirmed – although no cause of death has been confirmed
Naked Gun star Ed Williams has died. His granddaughter, Stephanie Williams, confirmed that he died on October 2.
She revealed that Williams, who played Ted Olson in ABC’s Police Squad, died aged 98 in Los Angeles. Williams, born Edwin Wallace Williams on November 26, 1926, he died just days after his former Father of the Bride co-star Diane Katon, who died aged 79.
Before moving to LA in 1955, Williams had a successful career in theatre and radio productions. He later began teaching speech classes at LA City College, which led to his casting as Olson on ABC’s Police Squad!
In a 2017 interview with Matthew Worley of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, Williams reflected on his career, stating: “I made up for lost time and got a fairly decent part to start coming back into acting.” Police Squad! first hit the screens in March 1982 with a series of six episodes, before transitioning to Paramount Pictures with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.
There was a staggering 24-year period when Ed didn’t audition for any roles, stating: “I do not approve of professors that go out and moonlight and make a lot of money on the side and neglect their classes. That used to make me mad to hear that.”
As his teaching schedule began to free up, the actor seized the chance to plunge back into the industry. “I felt like the [guy] who’s been trained to be a surgeon, but he didn’t quite get in the operating room. I wanted to get in the operating room.”
Fans have since taken to social media to pay tribute, with one writing: “RIP Naked Gun’s Ted!” A second added: “#RIP Ed Williams, perfect as lab scientist Ted Olson on ‘Police Squad!’ and the original ‘Naked Gun’ films. As a teacher, he had put aside acting for 24 years. ‘I do not approve of professors who go out and moonlight and neglect their classes,’ he said.”
“Rest in peace, Mr. Williams,” commented another. Ed’s co-star Diane died from pneumonia, it was recently revealed. The Annie Hall actress passed away on 11 October at the age of 79 and her family have now revealed her cause of death in a new statement, in which they thanked fans for their “extraordinary” messages of support.
Diane’s family told People magazine: “The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11.”
The family suggested those who wanted to pay tribute to the Godfather star could make a donation to one of her favourite causes.
They added: “She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”
It was previously reported that Diane’s health had “declined very suddenly” before her death. A source told People magazine: “She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.
“It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit. In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.”
In March, Diane put her “dream home” in Brentwood, California, up for sale, despite previously vowing to stay there forever, and she was no longer regularly seen in the area walking her dogs.
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