Robert Guillaume
Robert Guillaume | |
---|---|
Born | Robert Peter Williams November 30, 1927 |
Died | October 24, 2017 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 89)
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 (born Robert Peter Williams; November 30, 1927 – October 24, 2017) was an American actor and singer. He played
.In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Guillaume worked extensively on stage, television and film. For his efforts, he was nominated for a
Early life
Guillaume was born Robert Peter Williams in St. Louis[2] to an alcoholic mother. After she abandoned him and several siblings, they were raised by their grandmother, Jeannette Williams.[3] He studied at Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis and served in the U.S. Army before pursuing an acting career.[4] He adopted the surname Guillaume (French for William) as his stage name.
Career
Stage
After leaving university, Guillaume joined the
In 1964, he portrayed Sportin' Life in a revival of Porgy and Bess at New York City Center.[2] Guillaume was a member of the Robert De Cormier Singers, performing in concerts and on television.[3] He recorded an LP album, Columbia CS9033, titled Just Arrived, as a member of The Pilgrims, a folk trio, with Angeline Butler and Millard Williams.[5] Columbia records producer Tom Wilson had set out to create the Pilgrims as an answer to the popular folk trio Peter, 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 named Paul 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 of
In 1990, Guillaume was cast in the Los Angeles production of The Phantom of the Opera, replacing Michael Crawford in the title role.[6] Guillaume was the first Black actor to portray the character.[12]
Television
Guillaume made several guest appearances on sitcoms, including
His series-regular debut was on the ABC series Soap, 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-series
He also appeared as marriage counselor Edward Sawyer on
His voice was employed for characters in television series
Personal life
Guillaume was married twice; first to Marlene Williams in 1955, with whom he had two sons, Kevin and Jacques. Despite Guillaume choosing to follow his career early in the marriage, they did not divorce until 1984.
In 1999, Guillaume suffered a stroke while working on Sports Night at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, 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]
Death
Guillaume died of prostate cancer on October 24, 2017, at his home in Los Angeles, California, aged 89.[14]
Honors
Guillaume has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.[18] On November 28, 1984, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in the television industry.[19][20]
Filmography
Film
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 | |
1996 | First Kid | Wilkes | |
1998 | The Easter Story Keepers | Ben (voice) | Direct-to-video |
1998 | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | Rafiki (voice) | Direct-to-video |
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) | Direct-to-video |
2002 | 13th Child | Riley | |
2003 | The Lion King Read-Along | Rafiki (voice) | Direct-to-video |
2003 | 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 |
Television
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" |
1975 | All in the Family | Dr. Franklin | Episode: "Chain Letter" |
1975 | 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 |
1978 | 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 |
1979 | Dinah! | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "05.01.1979" |
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 |
1981 | 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 |
1983 | 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) |
1986 | Hotel | Frank Stoner | Episode: "Shadow Play" |
1987 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel | Harlan Wade | TV movie |
1987 | Crossbow | Nolan Ben Sunniman Al Hedrem | 2 episodes |
1987 | The New Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Episode: "10.26.1987" |
1989 | The Penthouse | Eugene St. Clair | TV movie |
1989 | The Robert Guillaume Show | Edward Sawyer | Series regular (12 episodes) |
1989 | Fire and Rain | Carter | TV movie |
1989 | Sister Kate | Mr. Townsend | Episode: "Neville's Hired Hand" |
1990 | Carol & Company | Sam | Episode: "Soap Gets in Your Eyes" |
1990 | The Arsenio Hall Show | Himself | Episode: "06.11.1990" |
1991–1992 | A Different World | Dean Winston / Professor Murphy | 3 episodes |
1991–1992 | Pacific Station | Detective Bob Ballard | Series regular (13 episodes) |
1992 | Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story | Police Commissioner | TV movie (uncredited) |
1992 | L.A. Law | Edward Rollins | Episode: "Diet, Diet My Darling" |
1992 | Fish Police | Detective Catfish (voice) | 6 episodes |
1992 | Jack's Place | Ted Sill | Episode: "Romance Takes a Curtain Call" |
1992 | Driving Miss Daisy | Hoke Colburn | TV movie |
1992 | Mastergate | Sydley Sellers | TV movie |
1992 | You Must Remember This | Uncle Buddy | TV movie |
1992 | One on One with John Tesh | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "#1.86" |
1992 | Jeopardy! | Himself (Contestant) | Episode: "Celebrity Jeopardy! Game #5" |
1993 | The Addams Family | Mr. Corblarb (voice) | Episode: "Color Me Addams" |
1993 | Diagnosis Murder | Father Morrissey | Episode: "Miracle Cure" |
1993 | 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?" |
1994 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Citizen (voice) | Episode: "Bug Off" |
1994 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Pete Fletcher | Episode: "You'd Better Shop Around" |
1994 | Greyhounds | Robert Smith | TV movie |
1994 | Cosmic Slop | Gleason Golightly | TV movie (Segment: "Space Traders") |
1994 | 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 |
1996 | Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story | Reverend Devers | TV movie |
1996 | Panic in the Skies | Rob Barnes | TV movie |
1996 | Pandora's Clock | Ambassador Lee Lancaster | Miniseries (2 episodes) |
1996 | Sparks | Professor Bernard Slater | Episode: "Porky's Revenge" |
1996 | Promised Land | Martin Woolridge | Episode: "Christmas" |
1996 | Crystal Cave | Merlin | TV movie |
1996 | Alchemy | Merlin | TV movie |
1997 | Goode Behavior | Dr. Baxter | Episode: "Goode Daddy" |
1997 | Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special | Narrator (voice) | TV movie |
1997 | Touched by an Angel | Judge Dawes | Episode: "Jones vs. God" |
1997 | Merry Christmas, George Bailey | Mr. Gower | TV movie |
1997 | Metropolitan Hospital | Unknown role | TV movie |
1997 | Wheel of Fortune | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | Episode: "Celebrity Week 2" |
1998 | The Outer Limits | Mr. Brown | Episode: "Monster" |
1998 | 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" |
Theater
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Finian's Rainbow | 2nd Geologist / Howard (understudy) | Broadway |
1961 | Kwamina | Ako | |
1963 | Tambourines to Glory | C.J. Moore | |
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 |
Music videos
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Dianna Ross: "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" | Angel-Man | |
1994 | Elton John: "Circle of Life" | Himself | uncredited |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Animated StoryBook: The Lion King | Rafiki | Voice role |
1995 | The Lion King: Activity Center | Rafiki | Voice role |
1998 | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Active Play | Rafiki | Voice role |
1998 | Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa | Rafiki | Voice role |
2000 | The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure | Rafiki | Voice role |
2003 | Extreme Skate Adventure | Rafiki | Voice role |
2004 | Who Wants to King of the Jungle | Rafiki | Voice role |
2004 | Timon & Pumbaa Virtual Safari 1.5 | Rafiki | Voice role |
2004 | Rafiki's Challenge | Rafiki | Voice role |
2004 | Half-Life 2 | Dr. Eli Vance | Voice role |
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 |
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ a b Huff, Richard (January 21, 2011). "Stroke Sidelines Guillaume". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Slotnik, Daniel E. (October 24, 2017). "Robert Guillaume, Emmy Award Winning-Star of 'Benson', Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Pollard-Terry, Gayle (January 8, 2003). "Robert Guillaume memoir details tumultuous life". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ a b c Italie, Hillel (October 24, 2017). "'Benson' star Robert Guillaume dead at 89". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Robert Guillaume, Emmy-winning actor in 'Soap' and 'Benson,' dies at 89". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Donna Brown Guillaume Actor Robert Guillaume's Wife". Daily Entertainment News. October 25, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-8262-1426-3.
- ^ Hawkes, Ellen (May 24, 1992). "The Anger Sustained Me". Parade. pp. 12–14. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Toledo Blade.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-6277-9034-5.
- ^ Guys & Dolls
- ^ Squires, John (October 24, 2017). "R.I.P. Robert Guillaume Was the First African American to Play 'Phantom of the Opera'". Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Guillaume, Robert (October 20, 1975). "Emmy TV Legends Interviews". Emmy TV Legends. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
Boy, that Marcus Welby must make fifteen million house calls a week
- ^ a b c Italie, Hillel (December 26, 2017). "Emmy Award-winning "Benson" star Robert Guillaume dies at 89". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Emmy-winning actor Robert Guillaume dies at age 89". KGTV News. October 24, 2017. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mr. Thicknose". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Half-Life 2 voice cast revealed". Game Spot. June 25, 2004. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Inductees: Acting & Entertainment". St. Louis Walk of Fame. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ "Robert Guillaume". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ "Robert Guillaume – Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ "Robert Guillaume, Emmy-winning Benson and Sports Night actor, dies at 89". Entertainment Weekly. October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Guillaume: Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Guillaume". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Overview for Robert Guillaume". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Guillaume – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Or Comedy-Variety Or Music Series 1979". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series 1985". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ "Biography". Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
External links
- Official website [dead link]
- Robert Guillaume at IMDb
- Robert Guillaume at the TCM Movie Database
- Robert Guillaume at the Internet Broadway Database
- Robert Guillaume at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- St. Louis Walk of Fame Archived November 15, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
- Robert Guillaume's oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
- Robert Guillaume at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television