Ed Williams, the veteran comedic actor celebrated for his roles in The Naked Gun series and Father of the Bride, has died at the age of 98.
His passing on October 2 in Los Angeles was confirmed by his granddaughter.
Williams, who initially taught speech at Los Angeles City College, returned to acting in his fifties and became a familiar presence in the comedies of the 1980s and 1990s. His major break arrived with the role of the deadpan scientist Ted Olson in Police Squad!, a short-lived ABC series that, despite its brief run, spawned the beloved The Naked Gun film franchise.
He also won audience affection for his performance as the priest who officiates the wedding of Annie Banks and Bryan MacKenzie in the 1991 classic Father of the Bride, which starred Steve Martin and Diane Keaton.
Reflecting on a period of being typecast in gentle authority roles, Williams joked in a 2017 interview that his agent “loved” sending him out for parts as ministers.
Beyond his film work, Williams made television appearances on popular shows such as Murphy Brown, Married… with Children, and Ally McBeal.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy, their sons Fred and Ian, and his grandchildren Stephanie and Maureen.
