Charles C. Stevenson Jr. has died at the age of 95.
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The actor was perhaps best known for his role as Smitty, the bartender on the beloved NBC sitcom, Will & Grace. Variety reported that Stevenson died of natural causes on Jan. 19 in Camarillo, California. His son also confirmed the news to TMZ.
Charles C. Stevenson Jr. Was a Late Bloomer
Born in Piedmont, California, the Korean War veteran graduated from UC Berkley with an English degree. He then began working for non-profits such as Project Hope and the Epilepsy Foundation on fundraising and public awareness campaigns.
Stevenson then relocated to Los Angeles in the 1960s. It was there he began working on PSAs and community events with actors like James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, and Henry Winkler.
It wasn't until he was 50 years old that Stevenson began acting. He began working in front of the camera in the 1980s. He was often seen playing the role of a preacher, priest, or pastor.
"In his own words, his job was 'marrying or burying people,'" said Stevenson's son Scott in a statement. "As he told it, the panic-stricken director would invariably come to him to beg him to find a way to fill in unscripted space between 'We are gathered here together' (where he'd probably get his close-up) and the 'Amen' at the end of the scene (where he usually wouldn't). Stevenson admitted that he got pretty good at that."
The versatile actor credits also include dramas like Murder, She Wrote and comedies like Glee and Bunheads. He also appeared in Ghost World, The Middle, My Name Is Earl, Men in Black, and Pleasantville.
Stevenson Snagged His First Big Role at 76
While he had a great career as a character actor, Stevenson's first substantial role came when he was 76. He played a sheriff in the Disney film Snow Buddies, part of the Air Bud franchise.
Scott also shared that his father "had a blast every minute" in his decades-long career. He added that Stevenson was "proud to have been part of such a landmark show" like Will & Grace "and very happy to have made a lot of people laugh."
Scott added, "I'm sure that if time hadn't caught up with him, he'd still be out there heading to casting calls, ready for another role to play and for a few more punchlines to deliver."
Stevenson is survived by two children from his first marriage to Barbara Keller and three children from his second marriage to agent Joy Stevenson. He had eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
