He became a familiar face behind the bar while starring in Will & Grace.
But now, veteran actor Charles C. Stevenson Jr. has passed away.
His heartbroken son confirmed that Stevenson died of natural causes on January 19 in Camarillo, California.
Will & Grace became such a popular sitcom for a combination of sharp writing, groundbreaking representation, and unforgettable characters. The chemistry between the characters was electric, and the show’s 83 Primetime Emmy nominations speak volumes about its success.
Among the talented cast that made the series a fan favorite was Charles C. Stevenson Jr., who played the beloved bartender Smitty.
A veteran character actor, Stevenson appeared in 12 episodes of Will & Grace across seven seasons from 2002 to 2020, becoming a familiar face behind the bar.
His final appearance came in the season 11 episode Accidentally on Porpoise, which aired on February 20, 2020. He was 89 years old at the time of filming.
But Will & Grace wasn’t the only show or film where Stevenson left his mark. He made his on-screen debut in a 1982 episode of Voyagers! and went on to build an extensive career with dozens of credits across both television and film.
Charles C. Stevenson Jr. and Megan Mullally perform onstage during the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
His movie credits included roles in The Naked Gun, Ed Wood, Men in Black, Pleasantville, and Ghost World.
Over the years, he also appeared on hit series like Cheers, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Murder, She Wrote, Family Matters, Everybody Loves Raymond, Party of Five, The Office, Weeds, My Name Is Earl, Las Vegas, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Charles C. Stevenson Jr. passed away from natural causes on January 19 in Camarillo, California, his son Scott confirmed in an interview with Variety.
Scott honored his father by sharing how Stevenson often viewed his work on screen, which frequently involved religious roles.
“In his own words, his job was ‘marrying or burying people,’” Scott told Variety.
“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.”
Born and raised in Piedmont, California, Stevenson served in the Navy during the Korean War before studying English at UC Berkeley, and then becoming an actor.
He married Barbara Keller, with whom he had Charles III and Valerie, and to the late agent Joy Stevenson, with whom he had Catherine, Scott, and William.
He is survived by five children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.