Robert Guillaume: The Life Story Behind the Benson Star
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Robert Guillaume had a voice that could make a room laugh, a room listen, and a room think, all at the same time. He was a singer, a stage actor, and a television star, and he did each one with a skill that few people could match. When he played Benson DuBois in Soap and then in Benson, he became one of the most loved characters on American television. Benson was a butler, a housekeeper, and later a lieutenant governor, a man who was smart, funny, and dignified, and who never let anyone treat him as less than a man. Guillaume played him with a wit that made audiences laugh, and with a dignity that made them respect him.
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1927, and he grew up in a time when Black performers faced many limits. He studied music, he sang in opera, he acted on Broadway, and he worked his way up through the theatre, through television, and through film. He won two Emmy Awards, he was nominated for a Tony Award, and he voiced Rafiki in The Lion King, a character that children around the world still love today. He also suffered a stroke in 1999, and he fought his way back to work, showing a courage that matched his talent.
He died in 2017, at the age of 89, after a long and remarkable life. He left behind a body of work that stretched from the opera stage to the television screen, and he left behind a reputation as a man of great talent, great humour, and great dignity. This is the story of a boy from St. Louis who became one of the most respected actors in America.
A Boy From St. Louis
Robert Peter Williams, known as Robert Guillaume, was born on 30 November 1927 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a city that was known for its music, its river, and its strong sense of community. St. Louis in the 1930s was a place where Black families faced segregation, but where they also built strong churches, strong schools, and strong families. Young Robert grew up in that world, and he learned the value of hard work, of music, and of education. His family was not rich, but it was loving, and it taught him to be proud of who he was.
He was a bright, musical child, and he was drawn to singing from a young age. He sang in church, he sang at school, and he discovered that he had a beautiful voice, a baritone voice that was rich and warm. He studied music, and he dreamed of becoming a singer, perhaps in opera, a world that was rarely open to Black men in his time. He did not let that stop him. He practised, he learned, and he believed that his talent would find a way. That belief stayed with him for the rest of his life, and it shaped the way he approached every role.
He went to school in St. Louis, and he was a good student. He was interested in many things, but music was his first love, and he pursued it with dedication. He studied at St. Louis University and at Washington University, and he learned to sing, to act, and to perform. He also served in the United States Army, where he learned discipline, teamwork, and the value of hard work. The Army was not the theatre, but it taught him lessons that would help him later, when he became an actor and had to work as part of a team.
After the Army, he moved to New York City, where he hoped to find work as a singer and as an actor. New York was the centre of American theatre and music, and it was a place where a talented young man could find opportunities, even if the work was hard and the pay was low. Guillaume arrived with little money, but with a great deal of talent and determination, and he began to work in the theatre. He was ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to fight for a place in a world that did not always welcome him.
Opera, Broadway, and the Stage
Guillaume began his career as a singer, performing in opera and in musical theatre. He sang in productions of Porgy and Bess, the famous opera by George Gershwin, and he played roles that asked him to sing with power and with emotion. He was a trained singer, and he had a voice that could fill a theatre, and he used it with skill. He also acted in plays, and he discovered that he had a talent for comedy as well as for drama. He could make an audience laugh, and he could make them think, and he could do both in the same scene.
He appeared on Broadway in the musical Guys and Dolls, in which he played a role, and in Purlie, a musical about a Black preacher in the South, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. The nomination was a recognition of his talent, and it was a moment of pride for him and for his family. He had worked hard to reach Broadway, and he had done it by being excellent, by being professional, and by being dedicated to his craft. He was not a star yet, but he was a respected member of the Broadway community, and he was known for his voice, his humour, and his warmth.
The stage taught him discipline, and it taught him to respect the text, to listen to the other actors, and to tell a story with honesty. He learned that a play is a team effort, and that no actor, however talented, can carry a show alone. He also learned that comedy is hard work, and that making an audience laugh requires timing, intelligence, and a deep understanding of human nature. Guillaume had all of those things, and he used them to become one of the best comic actors on Broadway.
He also worked in other theatres, and he built a reputation as a versatile performer who could sing, act, and make people laugh. He was a man of many talents, and he used all of them. He did not limit himself to one kind of performance. He sang opera, he acted in musicals, he played dramatic roles, and he made people laugh, and he did each one well. That versatility kept him working, and it made him a beloved figure in the theatre world. He was ready for television, even if television was not yet ready for him.
Soap and the Birth of Benson
In 1977, Guillaume was cast as Benson DuBois in Soap, a television comedy about a wealthy family and their servants. Benson was the butler, a man who was smart, funny, and dignified, and who saw through the foolishness of the family he worked for. Guillaume played him with a wit that made audiences laugh, and with a dignity that made them respect him. He did not play Benson as a servant. He played him as a man, a man who was smarter than the people he served, and who knew it. The role became an instant success, and Guillaume won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1979 for his work on the show.
Soap was a controversial show, because it made fun of many things, including sex, religion, and family life, but audiences loved it, and they loved Benson most of all. He was the voice of reason in a house full of foolish people, and he said what the audience was thinking. Guillaume played him with a perfect timing, a raised eyebrow, and a dry wit that made every line funny. He was not only a comic actor. He was a smart actor, and he understood that comedy comes from truth, not from jokes alone.
In 1979, Benson was given his own spin-off series, Benson, in which he left the wealthy family and went to work for a governor, first as a housekeeper and later as a lieutenant governor. The series ran for seven seasons, from 1979 to 1986, and it became one of the most popular shows on television. Guillaume played Benson as a man who was growing, who was learning, and who was becoming a leader. He was funny, he was wise, and he was dignified, and audiences loved watching him. He won a second Emmy Award in 1985 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, becoming one of the few actors to win Emmys for both a supporting and a leading role in the same character.
The success of Benson made Guillaume a star, and it made him a household name. He was no longer only a Broadway actor. He was a television star, and he was loved by millions of viewers. He handled the fame with grace, and he did not let it change who he was. He remained the man from St. Louis, the singer, the stage actor, and the professional who took his work seriously. He was proud of Benson, and he was proud of what the character meant to Black viewers, who saw a Black man on television who was smart, funny, and in charge of his own life.
The Lion King, Rafiki, and a Voice for Children
In 1994, Guillaume voiced Rafiki, the wise mandrill, in The Lion King, the Disney animated film about a young lion named Simba who must become king. Rafiki was a funny, wise, and mysterious character, a shaman who helped Simba to understand his past and to find his future. Guillaume gave him a voice that was warm, funny, and full of wisdom, and children around the world loved him for it. The film was a huge success, and it became one of the most loved animated films ever made. Guillaume’s voice became a part of childhood for millions of people, and he was proud of that.
He continued to voice Rafiki in sequels and in television shows, and he became known to a new generation of viewers who had never seen Benson. He loved working in animation, because it allowed him to use his voice in a new way, and because it reached young people. He understood that a voice could be as powerful as a face, and he used his voice with skill and with joy. He did not just read lines. He performed them, with the same energy he brought to the stage, and children could hear the happiness in his voice.
He also appeared in other films and television shows, including Lean on Me in 1989, in which he played a role, and in many guest appearances on television. He played men who were wise, funny, and kind, and he brought to each part the same warmth and dignity that had made Benson work. He was a versatile actor, and he could play a dramatic role, a comic role, or a musical role, and he could do each one well. He was a professional, and he took his work seriously, even when the part was small.
The role of Rafiki was important, because it showed that Guillaume could reach a young audience, and that his talent was universal. Children did not need to know his long career to love him. They only needed to hear his voice, to see Rafiki on screen, and to feel his warmth. That is a rare gift, and it is one that Guillaume had in abundance. He was a man who made people feel happy, and that feeling is precious, especially for a child watching a film.
Sports Night, a Stroke, and a Brave Return
In 1998, Guillaume joined the cast of Sports Night, a television series about a sports news show, created by Aaron Sorkin. He played Isaac Jaffe, the managing editor, a wise, calm, and respected man who guided the young people who worked for him. The role was perfect for him. Isaac was a father figure, a man who had seen a lot, who had learned a lot, and who wanted to help others. Guillaume played him with a warmth and a dignity that made the series work, and he was loved by the cast and by the audience.
In 1999, while he was working on Sports Night, Guillaume suffered a stroke, a serious medical event that affected his ability to speak and to move. It was a frightening time for him and for his family, and it could have ended his career. He was in his seventies, and many people would have retired. Guillaume did not retire. He worked hard in rehabilitation, he practised his speech, and he fought his way back to work. He returned to Sports Night, and he continued to act, showing a courage that matched his talent. His return was a moment of great joy for his colleagues, and it was an inspiration to many people who had suffered a stroke.
He continued to work after the stroke, appearing in television shows and in films, and he showed that a person could face a serious illness and come back. He did not hide his stroke, and he did not pretend that it had not happened. He spoke about it openly, and he used his experience to help other people who had suffered a stroke. He was a man who believed in honesty, and he lived that belief, even when it was hard. His courage was as important as his talent, and it is a part of his legacy that deserves to be remembered.
He also became an advocate for stroke awareness, speaking about the importance of early treatment and of rehabilitation. He believed that many people did not know the signs of a stroke, and that they needed to learn them. He used his fame to help others, and he did so with the same warmth and dignity that he brought to his acting. He was not only an actor. He was a survivor, and he used his survival to help others. That is a brave and generous thing to do, and it is one that I admire very much.
The Later Years and a Life of Love
In his later years, Guillaume continued to work when he could, and he spent time with his family. He was married to Donna Brown from 1986 until his death, and they built a life together in Los Angeles. He had been married before, to Marlene Williams from 1955 to 1984, and he had four children. His son Jacques died in 1990 at the age of 33, a loss that was deeply painful for Guillaume and for his family. He spoke about his son with love, and he kept his memory alive. The loss was a hard part of his life, and it made him a more thoughtful and more compassionate man.
He was honoured in his later years for his work, receiving awards and recognition for his long career. He was respected by actors, directors, and writers, and he was loved by audiences who had watched him for many years. He was a man who had worked in opera, on Broadway, on television, and in film, and who had done each one well. He was a versatile performer, and he was a professional, and he took his work seriously until the very end.
Robert Guillaume died on 24 October 2017 in Los Angeles, at the age of 89, after a long illness with prostate cancer. His death was reported around the world, and tributes came from actors, directors, and fans who had loved his work. He was remembered for Benson, for Rafiki, for Sports Night, and for many other roles, and he was remembered as a man of great talent, great humour, and great dignity. He left behind a wife, children, and a body of work that will be watched for many years to come.
His legacy is larger than any single role. He showed that a Black actor could be a leading man on television, that he could be funny and dignified at the same time, and that audiences of all kinds would love him. He showed that a singer could become an actor, that an actor could become a voice in a cartoon, and that a man could face a stroke and come back to work. He was a pioneer, a performer, and a brave man, and his work still brings joy to people today.
A Voice That Still Speaks
Guillaume’s voice is still heard today, in The Lion King, in Benson, and in Sports Night, and it still makes people laugh, think, and feel. He was a man who understood the power of a voice, and he used it well. He was a singer, an actor, a husband, a father, and a survivor, and he was all of those things with the same warmth and the same dignity. The boy from St. Louis became a star, and the star became a man whose work and whose life still matter to people who watch his films and his shows today.
A Singer, a Stage Actor, and a Man of Many Talents
Robert Guillaume was a singer before he was a television star, and he never stopped being a singer. He performed in opera, he sang in musicals, and he had a baritone voice that was rich, warm, and powerful. He sang in Porgy and Bess, he sang on Broadway, and he used his voice to tell stories, to make people laugh, and to make them think. His musical training shaped his acting, because he understood rhythm, timing, and the power of a voice to convey emotion. He brought music to every role he played, even when the role did not ask for it, and that made his performances richer.
He was also a stage actor, and he believed that the theatre was the home of the actor. He appeared on Broadway in Guys and Dolls and in Purlie, and he was nominated for a Tony Award for his work. The stage taught him discipline, and it taught him to respect the text, to listen to the other actors, and to tell a story with honesty. He learned that a play is a team effort, and that no actor, however talented, can carry a show alone. He carried those lessons with him into television and film, and they made him a better actor in every medium.
He was a man of many talents, and he used all of them. He sang opera, he acted in musicals, he played dramatic roles, and he made people laugh, and he did each one well. That versatility kept him working, and it made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. He did not limit himself to one kind of performance. He explored, he learned, and he shared his gifts with the world. He was a singer, an actor, a voice artist, and a survivor, and he was all of those things with the same warmth and the same dedication.
His voice as Rafiki in The Lion King is a perfect example of his many talents coming together. He used his singing voice, his acting skill, and his sense of humour to create a character that children around the world still love today. He did not just read lines. He performed them, with the same energy he brought to the stage, and children could hear the joy in his voice. That is a rare gift, and it is one that Guillaume had in abundance. He was a man who understood the power of a voice, and he used it well, both on stage and off it.
My Take:
I think Robert Guillaume is one of the funniest and wisest actors who ever worked on television, and I mean both of those things at the same time. When he played Benson, he made me laugh, but he also made me think. Benson was a butler, but he was smarter than the people he served, and he knew it. Guillaume played him with a raised eyebrow, a dry wit, and a dignity that made the character unforgettable. I think that is a hard thing to do, to be funny and dignified at the same time, and Guillaume did it better than almost anyone. He did not need to shout to be funny. He needed only to look, to speak, and to let the audience understand what he was thinking.
I love his voice as Rafiki in The Lion King, because it is warm, funny, and wise, all at once. Rafiki is a character who helps Simba to understand his past, and Guillaume gave him a voice that felt like a wise old friend. Children loved Rafiki, and adults loved him too, because he was funny and because he was true. I think that voice work is one of the great performances in animation, and it is one that I will always remember. Guillaume did not just read lines. He performed them, with the same energy he brought to the stage, and children could hear the joy in his voice.
What I find sad in his story is the loss of his son Jacques, who died at the age of 33. That is a terrible loss for any parent, and it is a loss that no success can balance. Guillaume spoke about his son with love, and he kept his memory alive, but the pain must have been with him for the rest of his life. I think that loss made him a more thoughtful and more compassionate man, and it made his performances deeper. He understood grief, and he understood love, and he brought that understanding to his work. I respect him for facing that loss with dignity, and for continuing to work and to live.
I admire the way he fought his way back from a stroke in 1999. A stroke is a frightening thing, and it can end a career. Guillaume was in his seventies, and many people would have retired. He did not retire. He worked hard in rehabilitation, he practised his speech, and he returned to Sports Night. That return was a moment of great courage, and it was an inspiration to many people who had suffered a stroke. He showed them that recovery was possible, and that a person could come back. I think that is one of the bravest things he ever did, and it is as important as any performance.
I also think about his work on Broadway, and about how he was nominated for a Tony Award for Purlie. That nomination was a recognition of his talent as a singer and as an actor, and it was a moment of pride for him. He had worked hard to reach Broadway, and he had done it by being excellent, by being professional, and by being dedicated to his craft. I think that stage work is the foundation of his whole career. Without the stage, he would not have been able to play Benson, or Rafiki, or Isaac Jaffe, with the skill that he did. The stage taught him to be honest, to listen, and to tell the truth, and he carried those lessons with him for the rest of his life.
His performance in Sports Night is one of my favourite parts of his career, because it shows his warmth and his wisdom. Isaac Jaffe was a father figure, a man who guided the young people who worked for him, and who believed in them. Guillaume played him with a calm authority that made the series work. He was not a loud man. He was a quiet man, a man who spoke softly and who was listened to because he spoke with wisdom. I think that is a powerful way to lead, and it is a lesson for anyone who wants to be a leader. Do not shout. Speak with wisdom, and people will listen.
I think about his marriage to Donna Brown, and about the fact that he built a life with her in his later years. He had been married before, and he had lost a son, and he had faced many hardships, but he found love again, and he built a family. I think that is a hopeful lesson. A person can lose, can suffer, and can still find love and happiness. Guillaume did that, and he did it with grace. He did not become bitter. He kept loving, he kept working, and he kept living. That is a beautiful way to live, and it is one that I admire.
There is something I keep returning to in his story, and that is his humour. He was a funny man, and he made people laugh, but his humour was never cruel. It was warm, it was intelligent, and it was kind. He made fun of foolishness, but he did not make fun of people. He made people laugh at themselves, and that is a generous kind of humour. I think that humour is a gift, and Guillaume used it well, both on screen and off it. He made the world a little happier, and that is a good legacy.
I also think about his work as a singer, and about how his voice shaped his acting. He was trained as a singer, and he understood music, rhythm, and timing. That understanding made his comedy better, because comedy is about timing, and his timing was perfect. It also made his dramatic work better, because he understood how to use his voice to convey emotion. I think that musical training is one of the reasons he was such a great actor, and it is a reminder that a talented person should not limit themselves to one art. Guillaume used all of his talents, and he did so with skill and with joy.
If I have a criticism, it is not of Guillaume but of Hollywood, which did not give him enough leading roles after Benson. He should have been the star of more films, and he should have been given the chance to carry stories on his own. Instead, he was often given supporting roles, and he did those roles brilliantly, but he could have done so much more. I think that is a waste, and I think it is important to say it now, so that people will appreciate the work he did do, and will understand what was lost.
What I take from his life is a lesson about dignity. He carried himself with dignity on screen and off it, in good times and in bad times, in fame and in struggle. He did not beg for work, he did not complain in public, and he did not lose his temper when the world was unfair. He worked, he spoke honestly, and he kept going. That dignity is rare, and it is powerful. I think many people would be happier if they lived with that kind of dignity, and I think Guillaume’s life shows us how to do it.
I also think his story teaches us to keep learning. He was a singer, an actor, a voice artist, and a survivor, and he kept learning new skills throughout his life. He learned to act on Broadway, he learned to work on television, he learned to voice a cartoon character, and he learned to recover from a stroke. That willingness to learn is one of the best things about him, and it is a lesson for all of us. Do not stop learning, even when you are old, even when you are famous, even when you have already succeeded. Keep learning, and your life will be richer for it.
Finally, I think about the simple image of Benson, a man in a suit, with a raised eyebrow and a dry wit, standing in a room full of foolish people and saying what everyone is thinking. That image is funny, and it is full of dignity. Guillaume brought that image to life, and he brought it to millions of people. He is gone now, but that image remains, in reruns, in The Lion King, and in the memories of the people who loved him. That is a good legacy, and it is one that will last for a long time.
I also think about his work as a singer, and about how his musical training shaped his acting. He was trained as a singer, and he understood music, rhythm, and timing. That understanding made his comedy better, because comedy is about timing, and his timing was perfect. It also made his dramatic work better, because he understood how to use his voice to convey emotion. I think that musical training is one of the reasons he was such a great actor, and it is a reminder that a talented person should not limit themselves to one art. Guillaume used all of his talents, and he did so with skill and with joy.
There is something else I want to say about his work in Lean on Me, because I think it shows his range. He played a role in a film about a tough principal who tried to save a school, and he played it with a warmth and a dignity that made the film better. He did not need a big scene to make an impression. He made an impression by being present, by being honest, and by being himself. I think that is a skill that only comes with experience, and Guillaume had a great deal of experience, both on stage and on screen.
I think about his son Jacques, and about the loss that Guillaume and his family suffered when Jacques died at the age of 33. That is a terrible loss for any parent, and it is a loss that no success can balance. Guillaume spoke about his son with love, and he kept his memory alive, but the pain must have been with him for the rest of his life. I think that loss made him a more thoughtful and more compassionate man, and it made his performances deeper. He understood grief, and he understood love, and he brought that understanding to his work. I respect him for facing that loss with dignity, and for continuing to work and to live.
I also think about the way he handled fame, and about how he remained humble even when he was a television star. He did not become proud, he did not become distant, and he did not forget where he came from. He remained the man from St. Louis, the singer, the stage actor, and the professional who took his work seriously. That humility is rare in Hollywood, and it is admirable. Many famous people change when they become famous. Guillaume did not change, and that is why people trusted him and loved him.
Finally, I want to say that I hope Robert Guillaume is remembered as a man of great talent, great humour, and great dignity. He was a singer, an actor, a voice artist, and a survivor, and he did all of those things with warmth and with grace. He brought joy to the screen, to the stage, and to the people who worked with him. He is gone now, but that joy remains, in his films, in his television shows, and in the memories of the people who loved him. That is a good legacy, and it is one that will last for a long time, carried on by everyone who still laughs at Benson and still smiles at Rafiki.
I also think about the audiences who still watch Benson in reruns, and who laugh at his dry wit all over again. A good comedy does not age, and Benson is a good comedy, because it is based on truth, on intelligence, and on a man who sees the world clearly. Guillaume gave the show that clarity, and it is still there, waiting for each new viewer who discovers it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role made Robert Guillaume famous on television?
Robert Guillaume became famous on television as Benson DuBois, first in Soap from 1977 and then in his own spin-off series Benson from 1979 to 1986. He won two Emmy Awards for the role, one for supporting actor and one for lead actor.
Who did Robert Guillaume voice in The Lion King?
In The Lion King in 1994, he voiced Rafiki, the wise mandrill who helped the young lion Simba to understand his past and to find his future. He continued to voice Rafiki in sequels and television shows, and children around the world loved the character.
Was Robert Guillaume nominated for a Tony Award?
Yes, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his work in Purlie on Broadway. He was a trained singer and stage actor before he became a television star, and he performed in opera and musicals.
Did Robert Guillaume suffer a stroke?
Yes, in 1999, while he was working on the television series Sports Night, he suffered a stroke. He worked hard in rehabilitation, practised his speech, and returned to the show, showing great courage and inspiring many people who had suffered a stroke.
Where was Robert Guillaume born?
He was born Robert Peter Williams on 30 November 1927 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up there, studied music, served in the United States Army, and moved to New York City to work in the theatre.
When did Robert Guillaume die?
He died on 24 October 2017 in Los Angeles at the age of 89, after a long illness with prostate cancer. He was remembered for Benson, Rafiki, Sports Night, and many other roles.
