Robert Guillaume

Robert Guillaume is best known for his work in television where he has earned two Emmy® Awards and four NAACP Image Awards. He has had a distinguished career as a dramatic film actor and an accomplished musical performer.

He garnered a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in “Guys and Dolls” and received rave reviews during his eight months as the star of the Los Angeles production of “Phantom of the Opera”.

But is was as Benson DuBois that Guillaume won his Emmy® Awards. The first for Best Supporting Actor for “Soap” in 1979; the second as Best Actor in 1985, after the Benson character moved on to the series bearing his name. He guided the character through the positions of butler, state budget director, and finally Lieutenant Governor, a transformation that is rarely seen in characters on television today.

Raised in St. Louis by his maternal grandmother, Jeannette, Guillaume interrupted his education with a stint in the United States Army. After discharge, he attended St. Louis University as a business administration major, and Washington University as a voice manor; for a while burying his true ambition of becoming the first African-American to sing tenor at the Metropolitan Opera. Born with the makings of a brilliant classical voice, Robert’s talent was recognized by Washington University’s Leslie Chabay, who arranged a scholarship for him at the Aspen (Colorado) Music Festival. This appearance led to a major turning point, Guillaume’s apprenticeship at Cleveland’s Karamu Theatre. There, under the tutelage of Russel and Rowina Jellife, he made his semi-professional debut in both opera and musical comedy. It wasn’t long after Guillaume moved from Cleveland to New York City that he became one of the stage’s best reviewed young actors. His critical triumphs included “Kwamina,” “Bambouche,” “Tambourines to Glory,” “Othello,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Apple Pie,” and “Jacques Brel.” He went on to even greater acclaim playing leads in “Purlie” and “Golden Boy,” and of course, “Guys and Dolls,” for his Tony-nominated performance as Nathan Detroit.

As a singer, he’s also received critical raves and standing ovations; from the showrooms of Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Lake Tahoe to concert stages across the United States.

Guillaume has also starred in theatrical films, including Disney’s “The Lion King,” “Meteor Man,” “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” “Seems Like Old Times,” “Lean on Me,” “Death Warrant,” and “Fish.” His work in television has included “John Grin’s Christmas,” “The Penthouse,” “The Kid with the Broken Halo,” “The Kid with the 200 IQ,” “Greyhounds,” “Children of the Dust,” “Panic in the Skies,” “His Bodyguard,” and “Silicon Towers.”

“As a television performer on ‘Soap’, ‘Benson,’ ‘The Robert Guillaume Show,’ and ‘Pacific Station,’ I sought consciously to avoid the stereotypical sociological traps,” says Guillaume. “I always wanted kids of any background to understand the characters I’ve portrayed were real, that the solutions they found were true and possible. It has always been important to me to stress that there was no diminution of power or universality just because my characters are African-Americans.”

Guillaume has also been the recipient of the prestigious Grammy Award for his reading of “The Lion King” book (on audiotape) in the voice of the beloved character, "Rafiki". Robert’s voice is featured as the narrator of each episode of the award-winning animated HBO television series, “Happy Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child” as well as the Confetti Enterprises's read along books, tapes, and CDs.

In addition to his work as a performer, Robert Guillaume has generously given both time and resources to numerous charitable and social organizations, among them, TransAfrica, AmFar, Sickle Cell Disease Association of American, Artists for a New South Africa, and California Association for the Education of Young Children.