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Ed Williams (actor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ed Williams
Born(1926-11-26)November 26, 1926
DiedOctober 2, 2025(2025-10-02) (aged 98)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationsActor, comedian
Years active1941–2010
Notable work

Edwin Wallace Williams (November 26, 1926 – October 2, 2025) was an American actor and comedian, who played Ted Olsen on the TV series Police Squad! and in The Naked Gun films.

Life and career

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Williams was born in San Jose, California, on November 26, 1926.[1][2] He was a broadcasting and speech teacher at Los Angeles City College in Southern California. He retired and then took acting classes. With the help of some contacts, he started acting as a second career.[citation needed]

He was best known for his role as Ted Olsen on the TV series Police Squad! and in The 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). Despite the success of The Naked Gun films, Williams only had minor roles in other films, such as The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991), Father of the Bride (1991) and Carnosaur (1993).

Williams later lived in Los Angeles. He died there on October 2, 2025, at the age of 98.[3][4]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1982Police Squad!Ted OlsenTV series, 6 episodes
1986RatboyLake Reporter
1988Going to the ChapelReverend Morton
1988The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!Ted Olsen
1990L.A. LawEd Tobias
1991High StrungBoss
1991The Giant of Thunder MountainMr. Macgruder
1991The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of FearTed Olsen
1991Father of the BrideReverend
1993CarnosaurDr. Sterling Raven
1994Naked Gun 33+13: The Final InsultTed Olsen

References

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  1. Edwin Wallace Williams in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947
  2. "Ed Williams". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  3. "Edwin Wallace Williams". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  4. "Ed Williams, 'Police Squad!' and 'Naked Gun' Actor, Dies at 98". The Hollywood Reporter. October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
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