Hollywood has lost another link to one of its most beloved comedies.

Ed Williams, the actor and former broadcasting teacher best known for his hilariously straight-faced role as scientist Ted Olsen in Police Squad! and The Naked Gun films, passed away on October 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. He was 98.

His granddaughter, Stephanie Williams, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, describing her grandfather as “a man who lived with purpose, humor, and heart until the very end.”

A Life of Service and Storytelling

Born in San Jose, California, in 1926, Ed Williams’ journey to Hollywood was far from ordinary. Before ever stepping in front of a camera, he served his country in the U.S. Navy and worked as a radio salesman at KSJO. His distinctive voice and quick wit later earned him a job as a booth announcer at KCET Television in Los Angeles.

Williams also spent years teaching broadcasting at L.A. City College, sharing his passion for communication and performance with generations of students. His path to acting came later in life, when his love for live theater led him to audition for a quirky new television project from the creators of Airplane! — Police Squad!

From the Classroom to Comedy Legend

That decision would change everything. Williams was cast as the eccentric police scientist Ted Olsen, a role that quickly became a fan favorite. His delightfully deadpan delivery of absurd scientific demonstrations became an essential part of the show’s humor — and later, a standout feature in The Naked Gun films starring Leslie Nielsen.

In one of his most memorable lines, Williams’ character gravely explained to Lt. Frank Drebin:

“As you know, Frank, billions of years ago, our Earth was a molten mass. But for some reason not understood by scientists, the Earth cooled, forming a crust — a hard igneous shell. That’s what we scientists call ‘Rock.’”

Williams’ perfect timing and subtle absurdity made Ted Olsen one of the most beloved supporting characters in the franchise — a scientist who took nonsense as seriously as life itself.

A Career Beyond Comedy

Though forever tied to The Naked Gun, Williams enjoyed a wide-ranging acting career that spanned nearly three decades. On television, he appeared in hit shows such as MacGyver, Matlock, L.A. Law, and The Bold and the Beautiful.

His film credits included playing clergy in several movies, from Father of the Bride to Infidelity and Going to the Chapel. In 1993, he even ventured into horror, portraying Dr. Sterling Raven in the cult dinosaur thriller Carnosaur, released the same year as Jurassic Park.

Williams officially retired from acting after a 2010 appearance on House, though he continued performing virtually in the Hollywood Radio Players series between 2022 and 2023.

Remembered with Love

Ed Williams is survived by his wife, Nancy; his sons, Fred and Ian; and his grandchildren, Maureen and Stephanie.

He is remembered by friends and fans as a man who approached both teaching and acting with equal joy — a performer who proved it’s never too late to find your calling.

Co-star Priscilla Presley paid tribute to him on social media, writing that his “gentle humor and warmth made every set lighter.”

Williams’ passing marks the end of an era for The Naked Gun franchise, whose stars — including Leslie Nielsen, George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalbán, and O.J. Simpson — have all since passed on. Yet through reruns and classic film clips, his legacy of laughter continues to live on.

At 98, Ed Williams leaves behind a reminder that it’s never too late to make people laugh — and that sometimes, the funniest thing in the room is a man who never cracks a smile.