Charles C. Stevenson, Jr., Who Played Smitty the Bartender on ‘Will and Grace,’ Dies at 95

Charles C. Stevenson, Jr., an actor known for roles in “Will and Grace,” “Dr. House,” “Ghost World” and more, died on Jan. 19 in Camarillo, Calif. of natural causes. He was 95 years old.

Over his decades-long career, Stevenson became known for his supporting appearances in a range of films and television shows. The actor was perhaps best known for his role as Smitty the barman on the 1998 sitcom “Will and Grace,” which he appeared on until the show’s final season at the age of 89.  He landed his first substantial role at the age of 76, playing a sheriff in the Disney film “Snow Buddies.” 

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Stevenson also specialized in playing roles as a preacher, priest or pastor; “In his own words, his job was ‘marrying or burying people,’” his son, Scott, said 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.” Over the years, he also had roles in projects including “Murder, She Wrote,” “Men in Black,” “Glee,” “Bunheads” and more. 

Stevenson grew up in Piedmont, Calif. Before the acting bug bit at age 50, he earned an English degree from UC Berkeley after having served in the Navy during the Korean War. Following graduation, he began working in fundraising, chapter development and public awareness drives for causes such as Project Hope and the Epilepsy Foundation. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, working on public service announcements and community events with Hollywood figures including James Stewart, Jack Lemmon and Henry Winkler. 

Stevenson is survived by two children, Charles III and Valerie, from his marriage to Barbara Keller, and by three, Catherine, Scott and William, from his second marriage to the late Hollywood agent and manager, Joy Stevenson. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.