Charles C. Stevenson Jr., the veteran character actor who brought heart and humor to some of television’s most beloved shows, has died at the age of 95. Stevenson passed away peacefully on Jan. 19 in Camarillo, California, of natural causes, his family confirmed.
Stevenson’s acting career blossomed later in life, but once he arrived in Hollywood, he became the kind of familiar, comforting presence viewers instantly recognized. Generations of fans came to know him as Smitty, the soft-spoken bartender on Will and Grace, where his dry reactions and perfectly timed lines always landed. He stayed with the sitcom through its entire run, appearing on the show well into his late eighties.
His path to acting was as unconventional as it was endearing. Born and raised in Piedmont, California, Stevenson served in the Navy during the Korean War before earning an English degree at UC Berkeley. Acting wasn’t even a dream yet. Instead, he built a meaningful career in public service and fundraising, working with organizations such as Project Hope and the Epilepsy Foundation.
His work eventually took him to Los Angeles, where he collaborated with Hollywood icons including James Stewart, Jack Lemmon and Henry Winkler on community events and public service campaigns.
It was in his fifties that Stevenson finally embraced acting. Even then, he spent years taking small roles, slowly becoming known for a very specific charm. He often played preachers, priests or kindly authority figures — a niche he happily embraced. His son Scott said his father used to joke that his Hollywood career revolved around “marrying or burying people.” Directors, he added, would often rush over in a panic, begging Stevenson to improvise a few extra lines to fill space between ceremonial moments. “He got pretty good at that,” Scott said with a smile.
Stevenson’s breakthrough came at age 76 when he landed a larger role as a sheriff in Disney’s Snow Buddies. From there, his résumé filled quickly. He appeared in Dr. House, Murder, She Wrote, Glee, Bunheads, Men in Black and Ghost World, among many others. His performances were always brief but memorable — the kind of character work that quietly supports a scene and elevates its stars.
Family was at the heart of Stevenson’s life. He is survived by two children, Charles III and Valerie, from his first marriage to Barbara Keller, and three children, Catherine, Scott and William, from his second marriage to the late agent and manager Joy Stevenson. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who adored him.
Though he didn’t start his acting career until midlife, Charles C. Stevenson Jr. became the kind of actor audiences felt they had always known — warm, dependable and unmistakably genuine. His family says that’s exactly the man he was off-screen too.
If he lived to that ripe old age, he definitely lived a good long time. RIP. Not going to say I am sorry, there is nothing to be sorry about. Look at the age of some of these Congressmen and Women. if they didn’t have the very best Care that America could get, they would have died a long time ago.
MacLean Stevenson, I know. This fellow, not at all.
😢🙏🙏🙏