Will & Grace Fans Mourn Character Actor Charles C. Stevenson Jr., Dead at 89

He was the kind of performer you didn’t always notice right away—until you realized how much he mattered. While the leads delivered the big laughs and headline moments, he brought steadiness to the frame, making scenes feel lived-in and believable. That quiet skill is exactly why so many viewers are now pausing to remember him.

Charles C. Stevenson Jr., a longtime Hollywood character actor known for his work in hit TV shows and major films, has died at 89. His family shared that he passed away of natural causes on January 19 in Camarillo, California.

A Familiar Face to Will & Grace Viewers

For many fans, Stevenson is most recognizable as Smitty the bartender on Will & Grace. It wasn’t a flashy role—and it wasn’t meant to be. As the calm presence behind the bar, Smitty served as a steady counterbalance to the show’s rapid-fire jokes and emotional turns.

Those supporting roles are often underestimated, yet they’re a big reason successful sitcoms feel real. Will & Grace became a landmark series—praised for its writing, performances, and cultural impact—and smaller parts still carried real weight in that world. Stevenson understood that assignment perfectly.