Ed Williams, the veteran actor best known for portraying lab scientist Ted Olson in the “Police Squad!” television series and the original “Naked Gun” film franchise, died on Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. He was 98 years old.
Williams’ granddaughter, Stephanie Williams, confirmed the news to multiple outlets. The actor’s death marked the end of a remarkable career that spanned decades, though he came to acting relatively late in life after spending years as a broadcasting educator.
Born Edwin Wallace Williams on November 26, 1926, in San Jose, California, Williams showed an early passion for entertainment. As a child, he listened to “The Lone Ranger” on the radio when his parents wanted him to practice the flute. In high school, he starred as the accident-prone Henry Aldrich in “What a Life!” After serving in the U.S. Navy, he acted in more than 200 plays for Lillian Fontaine, mother of Hollywood legends Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. He also worked as a salesman at KSJO Radio, where he wrote, starred in and created sound effects for recordings used to attract clients.
Williams pursued his master’s degree in acting and directing at Stanford, where he played the stuttering Billy Budd in a college production. In 1953, he auditioned for roles in “Stalag 17” and “The Robe” at Paramount Pictures. However, his path took an unexpected turn when he moved to Los Angeles with his wife Nancy in 1955.
Rather than pursuing acting full-time, Williams accepted a position at The Don Martin School of Radio and Television Arts and Sciences, taking over for Frank Cady, who had become a recurring character on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” Williams taught subjects including “Top 40 Disc Jockeying” during his six-year stint at the school. Among his students were future popular DJ “Real” Don Steele and Bob Eubanks, who would later host “The Newlywed Game.”
In 1961, Williams moved to Los Angeles City College to teach broadcasting while also working as a booth announcer at KCET television. He deliberately avoided acting auditions for 24 years, later explaining that he disapproved of professors who moonlighted and neglected their classes. However, in the mid-1970s, when his teaching schedule became less demanding as he moved to the speech department, Williams decided to return to acting. He attended acting classes at night, played the president of the court-martial in a production of “The Caine Mutiny” at the Hollywood Legion Theater, and began auditioning again.
Williams told the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters in a 2017 interview that he “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.”
His breakthrough came when he auditioned for the Zucker brothers and Jim Abrahams for “Police Squad!” The wacky send-up of police procedurals starred Leslie Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin and debuted in March 1982 on ABC. Though the show lasted only six episodes, Williams secured the role of Ted Olson, the earnest lab scientist with a pocket protector and a kinky side. He and Nielsen were the only actors to appear in both the television series and subsequent film adaptations.
The show found new life at Paramount Pictures with “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” in 1988, followed by “The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear” in 1991 and “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult” in 1994. Williams later reflected that while he regretted the show received seven-year options before it died, he appreciated that the role helped him make up for lost time in his acting career.
After 28 years at Los Angeles City College, Williams retired from teaching in 1989 to focus on acting. Throughout his career, he frequently portrayed religious figures. His agent often cast him in roles as ministers, priests, and reverends, which became something of a specialty. His most memorable performance in this capacity came in 1991’s “Father of the Bride,” starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, where he officiated at the wedding of Annie Banks and Bryan MacKenzie.
Williams also appeared on an episode of the CBS series “Crazy Like a Fox” written by his former Los Angeles City College student, Paul Robert Coyle. He expressed pride in playing a chaplain in the 1988 NBC telefilm “To Heal a Nation,” starring Eric Roberts. His resume included films such as “Ratboy” in 1986, “Nickel & Dime” in 1992, “High Strung” in 1992, and Roger Corman’s “Carnosaur” in 1993. He made television appearances on “Madame’s Place,” “Cheers,” “MacGyver,” “Hooperman,” “Matlock,” “L.A. Law,” “Sisters,” “Father Dowling Mysteries” and “House.”
Williams continued acting into his 90s, with his final credit appearing in the “Hollywood Radio Players” series in 2022 and 2023. He remembered Nielsen as a consummate professional who knew how to perform comedy well and commanded his respect.
Williams is survived by his wife Nancy, whom he married in September 1954; sons Fred and Ian; and grandchildren Stephanie and Maureen.
