A Will and Grace star has passed away, it has been confirmed. Actor Charles C. Stevenson died of natural causes last month in Camarillo, California, at the age of 95. The performer was most recognised for his portrayal of Smitty on Will and Grace, spanning 2002 to 2020. He also became synonymous with playing clergymen and ministers throughout his career.

In a statement, his son Scott remarked: "In his own words, his job was 'marrying or burying people.' 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."

Charles made his final Will and Grace appearance in episode 11 of series 11, entitled Accidentally on Porpoise, which broadcast on February 20, 2020. It was filmed shortly before global lockdown commenced amid the coronavirus pandemic when he was 89, reports the Mirror.

Throughout his career, Charles featured in numerous films and television programmes.

He secured his first significant role at 76, portraying a sheriff in the Disney film Snow Buddies, which premiered in 2008, alongside stars including Dylan Sprouse, Dylan Minnette, Josh Flitter and Mackenzie Mowat. Charles' IMDb profile shows that his earliest recorded appearance was as a reporter in an episode of Voyagers! in 1982.

Throughout the decade, he undertook a series of uncredited appearances in numerous television programmes, including the iconic Dynasty, alongside Cheers and L.A. Law. Additional work during the Nineties featured him in Baywatch, Empty Nest, Everybody Loves Raymond, Party of Five, Sister Sister, Murder, She Wrote and NewsRadio.

Stevenson also featured in The Naked Gun, Pleasantville, Ghost World, Ed Wood and Men in Black, in addition to Glee. Charles was raised in the Piedmont district of California before discovering a passion for acting at 50, having already obtained a degree in English from UC Berkeley.The 1960s witnessed his relocation to Los Angeles, where he began working on public service announcements and community initiatives alongside the likes of Henry Winkler, Jack Lemmon and James Stewart.

Beyond his acting profession, Charles was also a Korean War veteran, having served in the US Navy. Charles is survived by his five children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He had previously been married to Barbara Keller, the mother of his son Charles III and daughter, Valerie, in addition to the late agent, Joy Stevenson, who is the mother to his daughter Catherine and sons, Scott and William.