Ed Williams dead: The Naked Gun icon dies aged 98 days after ex co-star Diane Keaton

Ed Williams, the best-loved actor known for his infamous role in the Naked Gun film series, has died at the age of 98, his granddaughter confirmed. On Thursday (October 16), his granddaughter Stephanie Williams confirmed the star passed away on October 2 in the heart of Los Angeles to The Hollywood Reporter. A familiar face to millions of fans, Williams first shot to fame when he took on the role of the dead-pan scientist Ted Olson in Police Squad!

He often shared the screen with Leslie Nielsen in the police comedy, which became a cult-favourite ABC series. He later reprised the role of Ted Olson in the blockbuster Naked Gun movies, where his "scientific demonstrations" became a fan-favourite running gag.

Away from his comedy work, Williams was often cast as a man of the cloth on the big screen, playing reverends, priests, and ministers throughout his decades-long career.

One of his memorable roles came in the 1991 romantic comedy, Father of the Bride, in which he officiated the wedding of Annie Banks (played by Kimberly Williams) and Bryan MacKenzie (George Newbern) in the much-loved romantic comedy. He also shared the screen with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, who died of pneumonia at the age of 79 last week.

His warm screen presence and comedic timing made him the perfect cameo in both film and television for more than four decades/ A cause of death has not yet been released. His other acting credits include Ratboy (1986), Nickel & Dime (1992), High Strung (1992), and Roger Corman's Carnosaur (1993).

He also made cameos in several other big flicks, including Madame's Place, Cheers, MacGyver, Hooperman, Matlock, L.A. Law, Sisters, Father Dowling Mysteries, and House. The acting veteran, who continued working on the big screen into his 90s, first moved to Hollywood with his wife, Nancy, back in 1955.

Before he got his first big break as an actor, he worked as a teacher at The Don Martin School of Radio and Television, Arts, and Sciences. Reflecting on his decorated career with Matthew Worley of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, Williams admitted his agent at the time "loved to put [him] in ministers' parts, priests and ministers."

"So I got stuck on a lot of ministers for a long time there," he chuckled. Eventually, he said he "called to read for the people that were producing Father of the Bride". He recalled: "I was due to go up to see my mother, had an airplane booked even, and they said, 'Oh, no, no, you must stay'.

"And so luckily Southwest was very kind, they moved the flight, and I read for them, and I got the part". While describing his time on the set, he raved: "It was a pleasure doing it," and he was "grateful to be in it".

As for what it was like working with Nielsen in The Naked Fun franchise, Williams branded the late star a "consummate professional". He added: "[Nielsun] really knew how to do it and do it well, and I have nothing but respect for him." Williams is survived by his wife Nancy, and their children, and grandchildren.