R.I.P., Robert Guillaume (11/30/27 - 10/24/17)

[IrezumiKiss]

Magnificent stage and screen actor. One of the best of the best. You may only know him as Rafiki, but Benson was always the smartest person in the room. Watching him on the telly was a religion in my household. Rest in power, brother.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/half-life/images/6/6b/Robert_guillaume.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20100204190859&path-prefix=en

http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/entertainment/2017/10/24/soap-and-benson-actor-robert-guillaume-dies-at-age-89/_jcr_content/article-text/article-par-10/inline_spotlight_ima/image.img.jpg/612/344/1508879621118.jpg?ve=1&tl=1

http://www.robertguillaume.com/index_files/stacks_image_28.png

Robert Guillaume (born Robert Peter Williams; November 30, 1927 – October 24, 2017) was an American stage and television actor, known for his role as Benson on the TV-series Soap and the spin-off Benson, voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night. In a career that spanned more than 50 years he worked extensively on stage (including a Tony Award nomination), television (including winning two Emmy Awards), and film.

 

[OldJourno]

The man had a wonderful sense of timing.

 

[Lorilei]

He was fantastic.

 

[adrina]

I grew up watching Benson. I loved that show.

I don't remember a single scandal throughout his long career.

A fine actor and a fine human being.

 

[spacekowboy]

Aww damn... I was most definitely a fan. Sorry to hear this. From Soap to Benson to SportsNight.

My kid brother when he was in the 4th grade, his class put on a production of Phantom Of The Opera. This was when Mr. Guillaume was in the title role. Their teacher had got in contact with Mr. Guillaume, told him of the effort of these kids and invited him to attend the performance. Well as you might imagine he was unable to attend for various reasons, but he did send a very sweet hand written letter of encouragement to the class and headshots signed and addressed to each of the kids individually in the performance along with one of his masks. It was a pretty classy move.

And from what I remember of the performance, it didn't completely suck.

 

[Jennifer]

I have so many great memories of watching him. He was a gem.

 

[Not Normal]

He was wonderful, and will be missed.

I've been thinking of re-watching Sports Night. I think I will.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

"...sharp-tongued butler turned lieutenant governor Benson DuBois on Soap and its spinoff, Benson."

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...roundbreaking-emmy-winner-in-soap-benson-dies

I remember.

 

[KimGordon67]

"...sharp-tongued butler turned lieutenant governor Benson DuBois on Soap and its spinoff, Benson."

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...roundbreaking-emmy-winner-in-soap-benson-dies

I remember.

Soap! OMG ... that was about a million years ago.

 

[AngusBridie]

I just noticed this thread now and didn't know this happened. Loved this guy.

 

[Not Normal]

I wish Soap was on Netflix.

 

[Trigger_Warning]

I need to watch Soap again.

He had a great sense of comedic timing. RIP.