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R.I.P. Robert Guillaume of 'Benson' and 'Soap'

The Emmy-winning actor was 89.

October 24, 2017, 4:54PM By MeTV Staff

The Everett Collection

Before he was headlining his own successful sitcom, Robert Guillaume was breaking barriers in the theater. He starred in the first all-black production of Guys and Dolls. Frank Sinatra may have made the role famous, but Guillaume earned an Emmy nomination for playing Nathan Detroit. Later, he became the first black man to play the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, taking over the mask from Michael Crawford.

Of course, between those two notable stage roles, the St. Louis native was best known as Benson, the quick-witted, sharp-tongued butler on the sitcom Soap and its spin-off, Benson. Slotted on ABC the same evening as Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, the boundary-busting Soap surfed through some initial controversy, becoming a hit and a critical darling. For his work, Guillaume took home an Emmy in 1979 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Of course, that was not his only reward that year. In the fall of '79, Benson joined the network lineup. A family sitcom set in the world of politics, Benson lasted far longer than its parent show, largely thanks to the charm of Guillaume in the lead role. It aired for seven seasons. Heading into its final year, Guillaume at last won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

The actor later headlined his own The Robert Guillaume Show in 1989, in which he comedically explored the dynamics of interracial marriage. Unfortunately, the series lasted a mere 13 episodes, too ahead of its time.

Later in his career, Guillaume found a new channel for his talents in voice work. Most notably, he was Rafiki in The Lion King, and in many of its spin-off cartoons and video games. He landed another recurring TV role on the smart Aaron Sorkin series Sports Night. He always had a nose for sharply written television.

Sadly, Guillaume passed away early today after a battle with prostate cancer, as reported by Deadline. He was 89 years old.

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