Robert Guillaume (born Robert Peter Williams; November 30, 1927 – October 24, 2017) was an American actor and singer. He played Benson DuBois in the ABC television series Soap and its spin-off, Benson. He also voiced the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King, and played Isaac Jaffe in Aaron Sorkin's dramedy Sports Night.
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Guillaume worked extensively on stage, television and film. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, and twice won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of the character Benson DuBois, once in 1979 on Soap and again in 1985 on Benson. He also won a Grammy Award in 1995 for his spoken-word performance of an audiobook version of The Lion King. Guillaume was the first African-American actor to portray the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.
Early life and education Guillaume was born Robert Peter Williams in St. Louis to an alcoholic mother. After she abandoned him and several siblings, they were raised by their grandmother, Jeannette Williams.
He studied at Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis and served in the U.S. Army before pursuing an acting career. He adopted the surname Guillaume (French for William) as his stage name.
Career Stage
After college, Guillaume joined the Karamu Players in Cleveland and performed in musical comedies and opera. He toured the world in 1959 as a cast member of the Broadway musical Free and Easy. He made his Broadway debut in Kwamina in 1961. His other stage appearances included Golden Boy (with Sammy Davis Jr.), Tambourines to Glory, Guys and Dolls, for which he received a Tony Award nomination, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Purlie. His additional roles included Katherine Dunham's Bambouche and in Fly The Blackbird.
In 1964, Guillaume portrayed Sportin' Life in a revival of Porgy and Bess at New York City Center. Guillaume was a member of the Robert De Cormier Singers, performing in concerts and on television. 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. 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.
In 1976, Guillaume played Nathan Detroit in the Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls and was nominated for a Tony Award.Guys & Dolls
In 1990, Guillaume was cast in the Los Angeles production of The Phantom of the Opera, replacing Michael Crawford in the title role. Guillaume was the first Black actor to portray the character.
Television
Guillaume made several guest appearances on sitcoms, including Good Times, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, Saved by the Bell: The College Years and in the 1990s sitcoms The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and A Different World. Guillaume also played Dr. Franklin in season 6, episode 6 ("Chain Letter") of the series All in the Family, in which he coyly referenced Marcus Welby, M.D., a TV series in which he had guest-starred in 1970.
His series-regular debut was on the ABC series Soap, playing Benson, a butler, from 1977 to 1979. Guillaume continued the role in a spin-off series, Benson, which ran for 158 episodes from 1979 until 1986.
In 1985, Guillaume appeared in the television mini-series North and South as abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass, who escaped from slavery and became a leader of the anti-slavery movement prior to the American Civil War.
He also appeared as marriage counselor Edward Sawyer on The Robert Guillaume Show (1989), Detective Bob Ballard on Pacific Station (1991–1992), and television executive Isaac Jaffe on Aaron Sorkin's short-lived but critically acclaimed Sports Night (1998–2000). Guillaume suffered a mild stroke on January 14, 1999, while filming an episode of the latter series. He recovered and his character was later also depicted as having had a stroke. He also made a guest appearance on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. He made one of his final TV appearances during season 5 on Oprah: Where Are They Now?
He voiced characters in the television series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Fish Police, and Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. He was known for the voice of Rafiki in the movie The Lion King and its sequels and spin-offs. He lent his deep tenor voice as Mr. Thicknose in The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze. He also supplied the voice for Eli Vance in the 2004 video game Half-Life 2 and its episodic sequels.
Other activities Guillaume and his wife Donna were co-founders of Artists for a Free South Africa (later renamed Artists for a New South Africa) in 1989, along with a number of other Hollywood actors, including Alfre Woodard.
Personal life 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. He married Donna Brown in 1986. The couple had a daughter. He also fathered a daughter by a different mother, who was born in 1950.
In 1999, Guillaume suffered a stroke while working on Sports Night at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. The stroke was minor, causing relatively slight damage and little effect on his speech. After six weeks in the hospital, he underwent therapy consisting of walks and gym sessions.
Death Guillaume died of prostate cancer on October 24, 2017, at his home in Los Angeles, California, aged 89.
Acting credits Film YearTitleRoleNotes1973Super Fly T.N.T.Jordan Gaines1980Seems Like Old TimesFred1984Prince JackMartin Luther King, Jr.1986Wanted: Dead or AlivePhilmore Walker1987They Still Call Me BruceV.A. Officer1989Lean on MeDr. Frank Napier1990Death WarrantHawkins1993The Meteor ManTed Reed — Jeff's Father1994The Lion KingRafiki (voice)1996Spy HardAgent Steve BishopFirst KidWilkes1998The Easter Story KeepersBen (voice)Direct-to-videoThe Lion King II: Simba's PrideRafiki (voice)1999Silicon TowersDetective Green2001The Land Before Time VIII: The Big FreezeMr. Thicknose (voice)Direct-to-video2002The Adventures of Tom Thumb & ThumbelinaBen (voice)13th ChildRiley2003The Lion King Read-AlongRafiki (voice)Direct-to-videoBig FishDr. Bennett (senior)2004The Lion King 1½Rafiki (voice)Direct-to-video2008The Secrets of Jonathan SperryMr. Barnes2011SatinDoc Bishop2012Columbus CircleHoward Miles2013Off the BeachDr. BlackShort film
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1966Porgy in WienUnknown roleTV movie1969JuliaRobert BarronEpisode: "The Wheel Deal"1970Marcus Welby, M.D.Aaron CarothersEpisode: "The Soft Phrase of Peace"1975Sanford and SonAlbert BrockEpisode: "Steinberg and Son"All in the FamilyDr. FranklinEpisode: "Chain Letter"The JeffersonsCharles ThompsonEpisode: "George Won't Talk"1977Good TimesFishbone - Theodopius P. JohnsonEpisode: "Requiem for a Wino"1977–1980SoapBenson DuBoisRecurring role (50 episodes)1978Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack KlugmanHimselfTV specialHollywood SquaresHimself (Panelist)Episode: "12.18.1978"1978–1979The Mike Douglas ShowHimself (Guest / Co-Host)9 episodes1979The Kid from Left FieldLarry CooperTV movieDinah!Himself (Guest)Episode: "05.01.1979"2nd Annual Black Achievement AwardsHimself (Host)TV special1979–1983All-Star Family Feud SpecialHimself (Celebrity Contestant)3 episodes1979–1986BensonBenson DuBoisSeries regular (159 episodes)1979–1991The Tonight Show with Johnny CarsonHimself (Guest)9 episodes1980The Donna Summer SpecialAn AngelTV special1980–1981The Love BoatFrank Belloque / Allan Curtis3 episodes1981PurliePurlie Victorious JudsonTV movieAn Evening at the ImprovHimself (Host)TV special1982The Kid with the Broken HaloBlakeTV movie1983The Kid with the 200 I.Q.Professor MillsTV movieSaturday Night LiveHimself (Host)Episode: "Robert Guillaume / Duran Duran"1985North & South: Book IFrederick DouglasMiniseries (6 episodes)1986John Grin's ChristmasJohn GrinTV movie (also director); co-starred Guillaume's real-life son KevinHotelFrank StonerEpisode: "Shadow Play"1987Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous ScoundrelHarlan WadeTV movieCrossbowNolan Ben Sunniman Al Hedrem2 episodesThe New Hollywood SquaresHimself (Panelist)Episode: "10.26.1987"1989The PenthouseEugene St. ClairTV movieThe Robert Guillaume ShowEdward SawyerSeries regular (12 episodes)Fire and RainCarterTV movieSister KateMr. TownsendEpisode: "Neville's Hired Hand"1990Carol & CompanySamEpisode: "Soap Gets in Your Eyes"The Arsenio Hall ShowHimselfEpisode: "06.11.1990"1991–1992A Different WorldDean Winston / Professor Murphy3 episodesPacific StationDetective Bob BallardSeries regular (13 episodes)1992Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry StoryPolice CommissionerTV movie (uncredited)L.A. LawEdward RollinsEpisode: "Diet, Diet My Darling"Fish PoliceDetective Catfish (voice)6 episodesJack's PlaceTed SillEpisode: "Romance Takes a Curtain Call"Driving Miss DaisyHoke ColburnTV movieMastergateSydley SellersTV movieYou Must Remember ThisUncle BuddyTV movieOne on One with John TeshHimself (Guest)Episode: "#1.86"Jeopardy!Himself (Contestant)Episode: "Celebrity Jeopardy! Game #5"1993The Addams FamilyMr. Corblarb (voice)Episode: "Color Me Addams"Diagnosis MurderFather MorrisseyEpisode: "Miracle Cure"Saved by the Bell: The College YearsDr. Arthur HemmingsEpisode: "A Question of Ethics"1994Burke's LawEugene SayersEpisode: "Who Killed the Fashion King?"Captain Planet and the PlaneteersCitizen (voice)Episode: "Bug Off"The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirPete FletcherEpisode: "You'd Better Shop Around"GreyhoundsRobert SmithTV movieCosmic SlopGleason GolightlyTV movie (Segment: "Space Traders")Reading RainbowHimself (voice)Episode: "My Shadow"1995Children of the DustMossburgerMiniseries (2 episodes)1995–1999Timon & PumbaaRafiki (voice)Recurring role (12 episodes)1995–2000Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildNarrator (voice)Series regular (39 episodes)1996Lamb Chop's Chanukah and Passover SurpriseRobertTV movieRun for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryReverend DeversTV moviePanic in the SkiesRob BarnesTV moviePandora's ClockAmbassador Lee LancasterMiniseries (2 episodes) SparksProfessor Bernard SlaterEpisode: "Porky's Revenge"Promised LandMartin WoolridgeEpisode: "Christmas"Crystal CaveMerlinTV movieAlchemyMerlinTV movie1997Goode BehaviorDr. BaxterEpisode: "Goode Daddy"Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' SpecialNarrator (voice)TV movieTouched by an AngelJudge DawesEpisode: "Jones vs. God"Merry Christmas, George BaileyMr. GowerTV movieMetropolitan HospitalUnknown roleTV movieWheel of FortuneHimself (Celebrity Contestant)Episode: "Celebrity Week 2"1998The Outer LimitsMr. BrownEpisode: "Monster"His BodyguardGarrettTV movie1998–2000Sports NightIsaac JaffeSeries regular (45 episodes)1999E! True Hollywood StoryHimself (Interviewee)Episode: "Superfly: The Ron O'Neal Story"2000MoeshaArthurEpisode: "All This and Turkey, Too"2001Hollywood SquaresHimself (Panelist)2 episodes2002The Proud FamilyDr. Parker (voice)Episode: "Behind Family Lines"20038 Simple RulesCody GrantEpisode: "Every Picture Tells a Story"2004Century CityJudgeEpisode: "To Know Her"2005Larry King LiveHimself (Guest)Episode: "05.20.2005"2008CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationSonny BridgesEpisode: "Young Man with a Horn"2013Wanda Sykes Presents HerlariousHistorianTV special2016Oprah: Where Are They Now?Himself (Interviewee)Episode: "Transgender Teen Jazz Jennings/Stars of "Growing Pains"/Robert Guillaume"
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