Guillaume, Robert 1927-

PERSONAL

Original name, Robert Peter Williams; born November 30, 1927, in St. Louis, MO; married Marlene, 1955 (divorced); married Fay Hauser, 1978 (divorced); married Donna Brown (a television producer), 1985; children: (first marriage) Kevin (an actor), Jacques (a singer; deceased); (second marriage) Rachel Jeanette; (with others) Patricia, Melissa. Education: Attended St. Louis University and Washington University, St. Louis, MO; studied opera and musical theatre in Cleveland, OH.

Addresses:

Agent—Agency for the Performing Arts, 405 South Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212; Cunningham, Escott, Slevin and Doherty Talent Agency, 10635 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 140, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Manager—Alan David Management, 8840 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Career:

Actor, producer, director, and song performer. Founded Guillaume/Margo Productions and Confetti Entertainment; appeared in television commercials for Bounce fabric softener, 1970s, Black History Month, 2000, Swiffer Dusters, 2004, and Philip's Milk of Magnesia. Also worked as a dishwasher, sales clerk, postal clerk, and streetcar driver. Military service: U.S. Army, 1945-46.

Member:

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild.

Awards, Honors:

Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best actor in a musical, Drama Desk Award, outstanding actor in a musical, 1977, both for Guys and Dolls; Emmy Award, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy or comedy-variety series, 1979, TV Land Award nomination, best broadcast butler, 2004, both for Soap; Emmy Awards, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy or comedy-variety series, 1979, and outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, 1985, Emmy Award nominations, outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a television series-comedy/musical, 1983, 1984, 1985, Emmy Award, all for Benson; Daytime Emmy Award nomination, outstanding performer in an animated program, 2000, for Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child; Image Award nominations, outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, 1999, 2001, and outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, 2000, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (with others), outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series, 2000, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a series, comedy, or musical, International Press Academy, 2001, all for Sports Night; Golden Nymph, Monte-Carlo TV Festival, outstanding male actor, 2001; Video Premiere Award nomination (with others), best animated character performance, 2001, for The Land Before Times VIII: The Big Freeze; Interactive Achievement Award, outstanding achievement in character performance—male, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, 2005, for Half-Life 2; Received Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Second geologist and singer, Finian's Rainbow, 46th Street Theatre, New York City, 1960.

(Broadway debut) Ako, Kwamina, Fifty-Fourth Street Theatre, New York City, 1961.

Carl, Fly Blackbird, Mayfair Theatre, New York City, 1962.

C. J. Moore, Tambourines to Glory, New York City, 1963.

Ensemble, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Village Gate Theatre, New York City, 1968, then Charles Playhouse, Boston, MA, 1969-70.

Frankie, No Place to Be Somebody, Arena Stage, Washington, DC, 1969-70.

Karl, The Life and Times of J. Walter Smintheus, Theatre de Lys, New York City, 1970.

Fire in the Mindhouse, Center Stage, Baltimore, MD, 1970-71.

Allan, Charlie Was Here and Now He's Gone, Eastside Playhouse, New York City, 1971.

Title role, Purlie, Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1971, then Billy Rose Theatre, New York City, 1972.

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well Living in Paris, Royal Theatre, New York City, 1972.

Benito Cereno, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1975-76.

Marshall, Apple Pie, New York Shakespeare Festival, Anspacher Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1976.

Nathan Detroit, Guys and Dolls, Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1976.

Don Juan, Goodman Theatre, 1977.

Night of 100 Stars, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1982.

Cabaret, Riverside Resort, Las Vegas, NV, 1987.

Title role, Phantom of the Opera, Los Angeles, CA, 1990.

Title role, Cyrano—The Musical, Neil Simon Theatre, New York City, 1993-94.

Made stage debut as Billy Bigelow, Carousel; also appeared in Golden Boy, New York City; Music! Music!, New York City; Othello, New York City; Porgy and Bess, New York City; Miracle Play, New York City.

Film Appearances:

Jordan Gaines, Super Fly T.N.T., Paramount, 1973.

Fred, Seems Like Old Times (also known as Neil Simon's "Seems Like Old Times"), Columbia, 1980.

Martin Luther King, Prince Jack, Castle Hill, 1985.

V.A. Officer, They Still Call Me Bruce, Shapiro/Jihee Productions, 1987.

Philmore Walker, Wanted: Dead or Alive, New World Pictures, 1987.

Dr. Frank Napier, Lean on Me, Warner Bros., 1989.

Hawkins, Death Warrant, 1990.

Ted Reed, Jeff's father, The Meteor Man, 1993.

Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King (animated; also known as El rey leon), 1994.

Agent Steve Bishop, Spy Hard, Buena Vista, 1996.

Wilkes, First Kid, Buena Vista, 1996.

Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (animated), Buena Vista Home Video, 1998.

Singing voice, The Easter Story Keepers, 1998.

Detective Green, Silicon Towers, 1999.

Voice of Mr. Thicknose, The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze (animated; also known as The Land Before Time 8: The Big Freeze and The Land Before Time: The Big Freeze), Universal Studios Home Video, 2001.

Voice of Ben, The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina (animated), Buena Vista, 2002.

Riley, 13th Child (also known as The 13th Child, Legend of the Jersey Devil), MTI Home Video, 2002.

Older Dr. Bennett, Big Fish, 2003.

Reader, Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (documentary), 2003.

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years, Koch Vision, 2004.

Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King 1 ½ (also known as The Lion King 3; animated), Buena Vista, 2004.

Doc, Jack Satin, 2005.

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (also known as B.G.A. 2 and Broadway: The Golden Age 2), 2008.

Television Appearances; Series:

Benson Dubois, Soap, ABC, 1977-80.

Benson Dubois, Benson, ABC, 1979-86.

3-2-1 Contact, 1980.

Dr. Edward Sawyer, The Robert Guillaume Show, ABC, 1989.

Voice of Citizen, Captain Planet and the Planeteers (animated; also known as The New Adventures of Captain Planet), 1990.

Detective Bob Ballard, Pacific Station, 1991.

Voice of Detective Catfish, Fish Police (animated), 1992.

Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King: Timon & Pumbaa (animated; also known as Timon and Pumbaa), Disney Channel, 1995.

Isaac Jaffe, Sports Night, ABC, 1998-2000.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Frederick Douglass, North and South, ABC, 1985.

Jolson Mossburger, A Good Day to Die (also known as Children of the Dust), CBS, 1995.

Ambassador Lee Lancaster, Pandora's Clock (also known as Doomsday Virus), NBC, 1996.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Larry Cooper, The Kid from Left Field, NBC, 1979.

Blake, The Kid with the Broken Halo, NBC, 1982.

Professor Mills, The Kid with the 200 I.Q., NBC, 1983.

Harlan Wade, Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel, NBC, 1987.

Carter Guthrie, Fire and Rain, USA Network, 1989.

Eugene St. Clair, The Penthouse, ABC, 1989.

Uncle Buddy/W. B. Jackson, You Must Remember This (also known as Wonderworks: "You Must Remember This"), 1992.

Congressman Sydley Sellers, Mastergate, 1992.

(Uncredited) Police commissioner, Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story (also known as Best Intentions), 1992.

Robert "Maximum Bob" Smith, Greyhounds, CBS, 1994.

Reverend Devers, Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story, Showtime, 1996.

Rob Barnes, Panic in the Skies!, Family Channel, 1996.

Merlin, Crystal Cave (also known as The Crystal Cave: Lessons from the Teachings of Merlin), 1996.

Merlin, Alchemy, 1996.

Voice, Snow White, 1996.

Mr. Gower and Mr. Martini, Merry Christmas, George Bailey, PBS, 1997.

Garrett, His Bodyguard (also known as Silent Echoes), USA Network, 1998.

Narrator, The Happy Prince, 1999.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Porgy in Wien, 1966.

Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin, NBC, 1972.

ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration—25 and Still the One, ABC, 1978.

Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman, NBC, 1978.

Rich Little's Washington Follies, ABC, 1978.

Benson, Soap Retrospective II, ABC, 1978.

Presenter, The 32nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1978.

The Singer, Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope in the Star-Makers, NBC, 1980.

The Donna Summer Special, ABC, 1980.

Hal Linden's Big Apple, ABC, 1980.

Title role, Purlie, PBS, 1981.

Host, Magic with the Stars, NBC, 1982.

Texaco Star Theater: Opening Night, NBC, 1982.

Night of 100 Stars, 1982.

Performer, The 37th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1983.

Host, The World's Funniest Commercial Goofs, ABC, 1983.

Host, The 5th Annual Black Achievement Awards, 1984.

The 38th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1985.

Life's Most Embarrassing Moments, 1985.

The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1985.

Host, The World's Funniest Commercial Goofs, ABC, 1985.

Host, Passion and Memory, PBS, 1986.

Title role, John Grin's "Christmas" (also known as Christmas), ABC, 1986.

The 7th Annual Black Achievement Awards, 1986.

We the People 200: The Constitutional Gala, CBS, 1987.

"The Music Makers: An ASCAP Celebration of American Music at Wolf Trap," Great Performances, PBS, 1987.

Host, Living the Dream: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, syndicated, 1988.

The Debbie Allen Special, ABC, 1989.

The 15th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1989.

Host, SST: Screen, Stage, Television, ABC, 1989.

The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990.

Motown 30: What's Goin On!, 1990.

Host, Disney's "Great American Celebration" (also known as Great American Celebration), 1991.

Story of a People: Expressions in Black, 1991.

The Dream Is Alive: The 20th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney World, 1991.

Hoke Coleburn, Driving Miss Daisy, 1992.

Co-host, In a New Light: A Call to Action in the War Against AIDS (also known as In a New Light), 1992.

Gleason Golightly, "Space Traders," Cosmic Slop, HBO, 1994.

Host, The Making of "The Lion King," Disney Channel, 1994.

Host, Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, Disney Channel, 1994.

Cincinnati Pops Holiday: Erich Kunzel's Halloween Spooktacular, PBS, 1996.

Narrator, Mother Goose: A Rappin and Rhymin Special, HBO, 1997.

Robert, Shari's Passover Surprise (also known as Lamb Chop's Passover Special), PBS, 1997.

Host, The Sixth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1998.

Presenter, The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1999.

Narrator, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999.

Narrator, Bremen Town Musicians: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999.

Narrator, Empress Nightingale: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999.

Narrator, Happy Prince: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999.

Narrator, Henny Penny: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999.

Presenter, Thirteenth Annual Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 1999.

Narrator, Three Little Pigs: From the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999.

The 31st Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 2000.

Narrator, Aesop's Fables: A Whodunit Musical: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Presenter, Essence Awards 2000, Fox, 2000.

Narrator, Frog Princess: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Narrator, The Princess and the Pauper: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Narrator, Rip Van Winkle: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Narrator, The Robinita Hood: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Narrator, Snow Queen: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Narrator, Steadfast Tin Soldier: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000.

Narrator, The Valiant Little Tailor: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2001.

Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television, TV Land, 2002.

TV Land Moguls, TV Land, 2004.

Inside TV Land: Primetime Politics, TV Land, 2004.

Also appeared in Mel and Susan Together; himself, "Superfly: Ron O'Neal Story": E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Host, It Hurts Only When You Laugh, NBC, 1983.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

The Leslie Uggams Show, 1969.

Robert Barron, "The Wheel Deal," Julia, 1969.

Carothers, "The Soft Phase of Peace," Marcus Welby, M.D. (also known as Robert Young, Family Doctor), 1970.

Dr. Franklin, "Chain Letter," All in the Family, CBS, 1975.

Fred's lawyer, "Steinberg and Son," Sanford & Son, 1975.

Dr. Franklin, "Chain Letter," All in the Family, 1975.

Charles Thompson, "George Won't Talk," The Jeffersons, 1975.

Fishbone, "Requiem for a Wino," Good Times, 1977.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1979.

Frank Belloque, "The Kinfolk/Sis and the Slicker/Moonlight and Moonshine: Parts 1 & 2," The Love Boat, ABC, 1980.

Allan Curtis, "Two Grapes on the Vine/Aunt Sylvia/Deductible Divorce," The Love Boat, ABC, 1981.

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters, 1981.

Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), 1983.

Frank Stoner, "Shadow Play," Hotel (also known as Arthur Hailey's "Hotel"), ABC, 1986.

The Bob Monkhouse Show, 1986.

Leon, Sister Kate, ABC, 1989.

Sam, Carol & Company, NBC, 1990.

Dean Winston, "To Be Continued," A Different World, NBC, 1991.

Dean Winston, "Never Can Say Goodbye," A Different World, NBC, 1991.

Kenneth Rollins, "Diet, Diet My Darling," L.A. Law, 1992.

Professor Murphy, "Really Gross Anatomy," A Different World, NBC, 1992.

Ted Sill, Jack's Place, 1992.

Father Morrissey, "Miracle Cure," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 1993.

Dr. Arthur Hemmings, "A Question of Ethics," Saved by the Bell: The College Years, NBC, 1993.

Eugene Sayers, "Who Killed the Fashion King?," Burke's Law, CBS, 1994.

Storytime, PBS, 1994.

Mr. Pete Fletcher, "You'd Better Shop Around," The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC, 1994.

Voice of himself, "My Shadow," Reading Rainbow, PBS, 1994.

Professor Bernard Slater, "Porky's Revenge," Sparks, UPN, 1996.

Martin Woolridge, "Christmas," Promised Land (also known as Home of the Brave), CBS, 1996.

Dr. Baxter, "Goode Day," Goode Behavior, 1997.

Judge Dawes, "Jones vs. God," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997.

Mr. Brown, "Monster," The Outer Limits (also known as The New Outer Limits), 1998.

Arthur, Dee's father, "All This and Turkey, Too," Moesha, UPN, 2000.

Cody Grant, "Every Pictures Tells a Story," 8 Simple Rules … for Dating My Teenage Daughter (also known as 8 Simple Rules), ABC, 2003.

Judge Barnett, "To Know Her," Century City, CBS, 2004.

Larry King Live, CNN, 2005.

"Network Notes," TV Land Confidential, TV Land, 2005.

"When Real Life and Screen Life Collide," TV Land Confidential, TV Land, 2005.

"Top 10 TV Spinoffs," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2006.

Gylne tider, 2006, 2007.

Also appeared in Dinah; Jim Nabors' Show.

Television Executive Producer; Series:

Executive producer, The Robert Guillaume Show, ABC, 1989.

Television Executive Producer; Movies:

(With Phil Margo) The Kid with the 200 I.Q., NBC, 1983.

The Fantastic World of D. C. Collins, 1984.

Television Work; Specials:

Producer and director, John Grin's "Christmas" (also known as Christmas), ABC, 1986.

Co-executive producer, SST: Screen, Stage, Television, 1989.

RECORDINGS

Taped Readings:

(With Christopher Noth) Kiss the Girls, Time Warner AudioBook, 1995.

Video Games:

Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King, 1994.

Voice, Extreme Skate Adventure (also known as Disney's "Extreme Skate Adventure"), 2003.

Voice of Dr. Eli Vance, Half-Life 2, Sierra Studios, 2004.

(English version) Voice of Raifiki, Kingdom Hearts II (also known as Kingudamu hatsu), Square Enix, 2005.

Voice of Dr. Eli Vance, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Electronic Arts, 2006.

Voice of Dr. Eli Vance, Half-Life 3: Episode Two, Electronic Arts, 2007.

Music Videos:

Appeared in P. Diddy's "Diddy."

WRITINGS

Autobiography:

(With David Ritz) Guillaume: A Life, University of Missouri Press, 2002.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Black Biography, Vol. 48, Thomson Gale, 2005.

Periodicals:

Jet, October 11, 1999, p. 32; December 11, 2000, p. 30.

People Weekly, October 11, 1999, p. 77.

TV Guide, March 27, 1999.