Actor Ed Williams also appeared in Father Of The Bride

Ed Williams, who played the deadpan forensic scientist Ted Olson in Police Squad! and the Naked Gun movies, has died aged 98.

The actor also played the priest in the 1991 version of Father Of The Bride alongside Steve Martin and Diane Keaton.

He started his career as a radio actor but in the 1950s bean a long teaching career in speech and broadcasting – until he was hired for the ABC comedy Police Squad! opposite Leslie Nielsen.

His character would always be giving an inappropriate science lesson to child when Nielsen’s Frank Drebin would come in asking about a case…

Although the sitcom ran for only six episodes in 1982, Williams kept the role when the idea was adapted for three big-screen outings as The Naked Gun, starting in 1988. He and Nielsen were the only actors to appear in both versions.

He also made appearances on Cheers, MacGyver and House, among many others, and kept acting into his 90s.

Williams died on October 2 in Los Angeles, his granddaughter Stephanie told US media. He leaves a wife Nancy, two sons and two grandchildren.

Published: 17 Oct 2025