Robert Guillaume | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Guillaume at the premiere ofSeems Like Old Times in 1980 | |
| Born | Robert Peter Williams (1927-11-30)November 30, 1927 |
| Died | October 24, 2017(2017-10-24) (aged 89) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Inglewood Park Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Washington University in St. Louis |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1959–2017 |
| Known for | Soap Benson Guys and Dolls The Lion King |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 |
Robert Guillaume (bornRobert Peter Williams; November 30, 1927 – October 24, 2017) was an American actor and singer. He playedBenson DuBois in theABC television seriesSoap and itsspin-off,Benson.[1] He also voiced themandrillRafiki inThe Lion King, and played Isaac Jaffe inAaron Sorkin's dramedySports Night.
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Guillaume worked extensively on stage, television and film. He was nominated for aTony Award for his portrayal of Nathan Detroit inGuys and Dolls, and twice won anEmmy Award for his portrayal of the character Benson DuBois, once in 1979 onSoap and again in 1985 onBenson. He also won aGrammy Award in 1995 for his spoken-word performance of anaudiobook version ofThe Lion King. Guillaume was the first African-American actor to portraythe title role inAndrew Lloyd Webber’sThe Phantom of the Opera.
Guillaume was born Robert Peter Williams inSt. Louis[2] to an alcoholic mother. After she abandoned him and several siblings, they were raised by their grandmother, Jeannette Williams.[3] He studied atSaint Louis University andWashington University in St. Louis and served in theU.S. Army before pursuing an acting career.[4] He adopted the surname Guillaume (French for William) as hisstage name.
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After college, Guillaume joined theKaramu Players in Cleveland and performed in musical comedies and opera.[citation needed] He toured the world in 1959 as a cast member of the Broadway musicalFree and Easy.[5] He made hisBroadway debut inKwamina in 1961.[6] His other stage appearances includedGolden Boy (withSammy Davis Jr.),[7]Tambourines to Glory,Guys and Dolls, for which he received aTony Award nomination,[8]Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, andPurlie.[9] His additional roles includedKatherine Dunham'sBambouche and inFly The Blackbird.[4]
In 1964, Guillaume portrayed Sportin' Life in a revival ofPorgy and Bess atNew York City Center.[2] Guillaume was a member of theRobert De Cormier Singers, performing in concerts and on television.[3] He recorded an LP album, Columbia CS9033, titledJust Arrived, as a member of The Pilgrims, a folk trio, with Angeline Butler and Millard Williams.[5] Columbia records producerTom Wilson had set out to create the Pilgrims as an answer to the popular folk trioPeter, Paul and Mary. By early 1964, the Pilgrims had recorded a handful of songs and Wilson was looking for the right song for the group's debut single when a then-unknown singer/songwriter namedPaul Simon arrived for a meeting with Wilson and eventually pitched his new composition, "The Sound of Silence". Wilson liked the song and had Simon record a demo for the group, but when Simon and his friend,Art Garfunkel, sang the song for Wilson in person, he signed them to a record contract instead of using it for The Pilgrims.[10]
In 1976, Guillaume played Nathan Detroit in the Broadway revival ofGuys and Dolls and was nominated for aTony Award.[11]
In 1990, Guillaume was cast in the Los Angeles production ofThe Phantom of the Opera, replacingMichael Crawford in the title role.[6] Guillaume was the first Black actor to portray the character.[12]
Guillaume made several guest appearances on sitcoms, includingGood Times,The Jeffersons,Sanford and Son,Saved by the Bell: The College Years and in the 1990s sitcomsThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air andA Different World.[6] Guillaume also played Dr. Franklin in season 6, episode 6 ("Chain Letter") of the seriesAll in the Family, in which he coyly referencedMarcus Welby, M.D., a TV series in which he had guest-starred in 1970.[13]
His series-regular debut was on the ABC seriesSoap, playing Benson, a butler, from 1977 to 1979.[14] Guillaume continued the role in a spin-off series,Benson, which ran for 158 episodes from 1979 until 1986.[2]
In 1985, Guillaume appeared in the television mini-seriesNorth and South asabolitionist leaderFrederick Douglass, who escaped from slavery and became a leader of the anti-slavery movement prior to theAmerican Civil War.[3]
He also appeared as marriage counselor Edward Sawyer onThe Robert Guillaume Show (1989), Detective Bob Ballard onPacific Station (1991–1992), and television executive Isaac Jaffe onAaron Sorkin's short-lived but critically acclaimedSports Night (1998–2000).[2] Guillaume suffered a mildstroke on January 14, 1999, while filming an episode of the latter series.[1] He recovered and his character was later also depicted as having had a stroke. He also made a guest appearance on8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.[14] He made one of his final TV appearances during season 5 onOprah: Where Are They Now?
His voice was employed for characters in television seriesCaptain Planet and the Planeteers,Fish Police, andHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child.[4] He was known for the voice ofRafiki in the movieThe Lion King and its sequels and spin-offs.[15] He lent his deep tenor voice asMr. Thicknose inThe Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze.[16] He also supplied the voice forEli Vance in the 2004video gameHalf-Life 2 and its immediate episodic sequels.[17]
Guillaume was married twice; first to Marlene Williams in 1955, with whom he had two sons. Guillaume's daughter was born in 1980.They divorced in 1984.[3] He married Donna Brown in 1986. The couple had a daughter, Rachel.[6] He also fathered a daughter by a different mother, who was born in 1950.[3]
In 1999, Guillaume suffered astroke while working onSports Night atWalt Disney Studios inBurbank,California.[5] The stroke was minor, causing relatively slight damage and little effect on his speech.[2] After six weeks in the hospital, he underwent therapy consisting of walks and gym sessions.[5]
Guillaume died ofprostate cancer on October 24, 2017, at his home inLos Angeles, California, aged 89.[14]
Guillaume has a star on theSt. Louis Walk of Fame.[18] On November 28, 1984, he received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame for his work in the television industry.[19][20]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Super Fly T.N.T. | Jordan Gaines | |
| 1980 | Seems Like Old Times | Fred | |
| 1984 | Prince Jack | Martin Luther King, Jr. | |
| 1986 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Philmore Walker | |
| 1987 | They Still Call Me Bruce | V.A. Officer | |
| 1989 | Lean on Me | Dr. Frank Napier | |
| 1990 | Death Warrant | Hawkins | |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man | Ted Reed — Jeff's Father | |
| 1994 | The Lion King | Rafiki (voice) | |
| 1996 | Spy Hard | Agent Steve Bishop | |
| First Kid | Wilkes | ||
| 1998 | The Easter Story Keepers | Ben (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | Rafiki (voice) | ||
| 1999 | Silicon Towers | Detective Green | |
| 2001 | The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze | Mr. Thicknose (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2002 | The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina | Ben (voice) | |
| 13th Child | Riley | ||
| 2003 | The Lion King Read-Along | Rafiki (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| Big Fish | Dr. Bennett (senior) | ||
| 2004 | The Lion King 1½ | Rafiki (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2008 | The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry | Mr. Barnes | |
| 2011 | Satin | Doc Bishop | |
| 2012 | Columbus Circle | Howard Miles | |
| 2013 | Off the Beach | Dr. Black | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Porgy in Wien | Unknown role | TV movie |
| 1969 | Julia | Robert Barron | Episode: "The Wheel Deal" |
| 1970 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Aaron Carothers | Episode: "The Soft Phrase of Peace" |
| 1975 | Sanford and Son | Albert Brock | Episode: "Steinberg and Son" |
| All in the Family | Dr. Franklin | Episode: "Chain Letter" | |
| The Jeffersons | Charles Thompson | Episode: "George Won't Talk" | |
| 1977 | Good Times | Theodopius P. Johnson | Episode: "Requiem for a Wino" |
| 1977–1980 | Soap | Benson DuBois | Recurring role (50 episodes) |
| 1978 | Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman | Himself | TV special |
| Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Episode: "12.18.1978" | |
| 1978–1979 | The Mike Douglas Show | Himself (Guest / Co-Host) | 9 episodes |
| 1979 | The Kid from Left Field | Larry Cooper | TV movie |
| Dinah! | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "05.01.1979" | |
| 2nd Annual Black Achievement Awards | Himself (Host) | TV special | |
| 1979–1983 | All-Star Family Feud Special | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | 3 episodes |
| 1979–1986 | Benson | Benson DuBois | Series regular (159 episodes) |
| 1979–1991 | The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson | Himself (Guest) | 9 episodes |
| 1980 | The Donna Summer Special | An Angel | TV special |
| 1980–1981 | The Love Boat | Frank Belloque / Allan Curtis | 3 episodes |
| 1981 | Purlie | Prulie Victorious Judson | TV movie |
| An Evening at the Improv | Himself (Host) | TV special | |
| 1982 | The Kid with the Broken Halo | Blake | TV movie |
| 1983 | The Kid with the 200 I.Q. | Professor Mills | TV movie |
| Saturday Night Live | Himself (Host) | Episode: "Robert Guillaume / Duran Duran" | |
| 1985 | North & South: Book I | Frederick Douglas | Miniseries (6 episodes) |
| 1986 | John Grin's Christmas | John Grin | TV movie (also director) |
| Hotel | Frank Stoner | Episode: "Shadow Play" | |
| 1987 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel | Harlan Wade | TV movie |
| Crossbow | Nolan Ben Sunniman Al Hedrem | 2 episodes | |
| The New Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Episode: "10.26.1987" | |
| 1989 | The Penthouse | Eugene St. Clair | TV movie |
| The Robert Guillaume Show | Edward Sawyer | Series regular (12 episodes) | |
| Fire and Rain | Carter | TV movie | |
| Sister Kate | Mr. Townsend | Episode: "Neville's Hired Hand" | |
| 1990 | Carol & Company | Sam | Episode: "Soap Gets in Your Eyes" |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | Himself | Episode: "06.11.1990" | |
| 1991–1992 | A Different World | Dean Winston / Professor Murphy | 3 episodes |
| Pacific Station | Detective Bob Ballard | Series regular (13 episodes) | |
| 1992 | Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story | Police Commissioner | TV movie (uncredited) |
| L.A. Law | Edward Rollins | Episode: "Diet, Diet My Darling" | |
| Fish Police | Detective Catfish (voice) | 6 episodes | |
| Jack's Place | Ted Sill | Episode: "Romance Takes a Curtain Call" | |
| Driving Miss Daisy | Hoke Colburn | TV movie | |
| Mastergate | Sydley Sellers | TV movie | |
| You Must Remember This | Uncle Buddy | TV movie | |
| One on One with John Tesh | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "#1.86" | |
| Jeopardy! | Himself (Contestant) | Episode: "Celebrity Jeopardy! Game #5" | |
| 1993 | The Addams Family | Mr. Corblarb (voice) | Episode: "Color Me Addams" |
| Diagnosis Murder | Father Morrissey | Episode: "Miracle Cure" | |
| Saved by the Bell: The College Years | Dr. Arthur Hemmings | Episode: "A Question of Ethics" | |
| 1994 | Burke's Law | Eugene Sayers | Episode: "Who Killed the Fashion King?" |
| Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Citizen (voice) | Episode: "Bug Off" | |
| The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Pete Fletcher | Episode: "You'd Better Shop Around" | |
| Greyhounds | Robert Smith | TV movie | |
| Cosmic Slop | Gleason Golightly | TV movie (Segment: "Space Traders") | |
| Reading Rainbow | Himself (voice) | Episode: "My Shadow" | |
| 1995 | Children of the Dust | Mossburger | Miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 1995–1999 | Timon & Pumbaa | Rafiki (voice) | Recurring role (12 episodes) |
| 1995–2000 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Narrator (voice) | Series regular (39 episodes) |
| 1996 | Lamb Chop's Chanukah and Passover Surprise | Robert | TV movie |
| Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story | Reverend Devers | TV movie | |
| Panic in the Skies | Rob Barnes | TV movie | |
| Pandora's Clock | Ambassador Lee Lancaster | Miniseries (2 episodes) | |
| Sparks | Professor Bernard Slater | Episode: "Porky's Revenge" | |
| Promised Land | Martin Woolridge | Episode: "Christmas" | |
| Crystal Cave | Merlin | TV movie | |
| Alchemy | Merlin | TV movie | |
| 1997 | Goode Behavior | Dr. Baxter | Episode: "Goode Daddy" |
| Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special | Narrator (voice) | TV movie | |
| Touched by an Angel | Judge Dawes | Episode: "Jones vs. God" | |
| Merry Christmas, George Bailey | Mr. Gower | TV movie | |
| Metropolitan Hospital | Unknown role | TV movie | |
| Wheel of Fortune | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | Episode: "Celebrity Week 2" | |
| 1998 | The Outer Limits | Mr. Brown | Episode: "Monster" |
| His Bodyguard | Garrett | TV movie | |
| 1998–2000 | Sports Night | Isaac Jaffe | Series regular (45 episodes) |
| 1999 | E! True Hollywood Story | Himself (Interviewee) | Episode: "Superfly: The Ron O'Neal Story" |
| 2000 | Moesha | Arthur | Episode: "All This and Turkey, Too" |
| 2001 | Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | The Proud Family | Dr. Parker (voice) | Episode: "Behind Family Lines" |
| 2003 | 8 Simple Rules | Cody Grant | Episode: "Every Picture Tells a Story" |
| 2004 | Century City | Judge | Episode: "To Know Her" |
| 2005 | Larry King Live | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "05.20.2005" |
| 2008 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sonny Bridges | Episode: "Young Man with a Horn" |
| 2013 | Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious | Historian | TV special |
| 2016 | Oprah: Where Are They Now? | Himself (Interviewee) | Episode: "Transgender Teen Jazz Jennings/Stars of "Growing Pains"/Robert Guillaume" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Finian's Rainbow | 2nd Geologist / Howard (understudy) | Broadway |
| 1961 | Kwamina | Ako | |
| 1963 | Tambourines to Glory | C.J. Moore | |
| 1964 | Porgy and Bess | Sportin' Life | Off-Broadway |
| 1970–1973 | Purlie | Purlie | Broadway & National tour |
| 1976–1977 | Guys and Dolls | Nathan Detroit | Broadway |
| 1990 | The Phantom of the Opera | The Phantom of the Opera | Los Angeles |
| 1993–1994 | Cyrano — The Musical | Cyrano | Broadway |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Dianna Ross: "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" | Angel-Man | |
| 1994 | Elton John: "Circle of Life" | Himself | uncredited |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Animated StoryBook: The Lion King | Rafiki | Voice role |
| 1995 | The Lion King: Activity Center | ||
| 1998 | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Active Play | ||
| 1998 | Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa | ||
| 2000 | The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure | ||
| 2003 | Extreme Skate Adventure | ||
| 2004 | Who Wants to King of the Jungle | ||
| Timon & Pumbaa Virtual Safari 1.5 | |||
| Rafiki's Challenge | |||
| Half-Life 2 | Dr. Eli Vance | ||
| 2005 | Kingdom Hearts II | Rafiki | Voice role (English version) |
| 2006 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | Dr. Eli Vance | Voice role |
| 2007 | Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ | Rafiki | Voice role (English version) |
| 2007 | Half-Life 2: Episode Two | Dr. Eli Vance | Voice role |
| 2012 | Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom | Rafiki | Voice role |
Boy, that Marcus Welby must make fifteen million house calls a week
