Charles C. Stevenson Jr., an actor known for his roles in “Will and Grace,” “Men in Black” and “Ghost World,” has died at age 95.
Stevenson’s son, Scott, confirmed his death in a statement to Variety on Thursday, saying his dad died of natural causes on Jan. 19 in Camarillo, Calif.
Stevenson grew up outside Oakland and served in the Navy before earning a degree in English from UC Berkeley. He later began working in fundraising and moved to Los Angeles, where he collaborated on public service announcements with marquee names like Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon and Henry Winkler.
But it wasn’t until his 50s that Stevenson got bit by the acting bug. He made his onscreen debut in an 1982 episode of “Voyagers!” and subsequently landed small roles in TV series such as “Dynasty,” “L.A. Law” and “Cheers.”
Of the 115 screen credits Stevenson accrued over nearly 40 years, at least two dozen were clergymen. He appeared as a minister, priest or pastor in episodes of “Murder, She Wrote,” “Chicago Hope” and “Melrose Place,” as well as “Boy Meets World,” “Party of Five,” and “Gilmore Girls.”
“In his own words, his job was ‘marrying or burying people,’” his son said.
Stevenson was also seen in beloved sitcoms like “Designing Women,” “Family Matters,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Spin City” and “Suddenly Susan.” If it was a TV staple of the 1990s or early 2000s, Stevenson probably appeared on it.
He later popped up in dramas like “The West Wing,” “Six Feet Under” and “Scandal,” but it was on the comedy “Will & Grace” that he had his longest-running role. Stevenson played bartender Smitty on 12 episodes between 2002 and the show’s 2020 final season.
Stevenson also found success in film, making appearances in two “Naked Gun” movies, “Pleasantville,” “Men in Black” and “Ghost World.” He was 76 years old when he scored his first substantial film role in the 2008 Disney flick “Snow Buddies.”
Stevenson is survived by five children from two marriages, as well as eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
