Robert Guillaume Net Worth And Biography
Robert Guillaume, whose full name is Robert Peter Williams, was a famous American actor and singer.
He became well-known for playing Benson DuBois in the ABC TV series Soap and its spin-off, Benson. He also provided the voice for Rafiki, a character in The Lion King.
During a career spanning over 50 years, he made notable contributions to the world of stage, TV, and film.
He received a Tony Award nomination for his role in Guys and Dolls and won two Emmy Awards for playing Benson DuBois, once in 1979 on Soap and again in 1985 on Benson.
In 1995, he won a Grammy Award for his spoken word performance in an audiobook version of The Lion King.
READ ALSO » Guillaume Canet Net Worth, Height, Children, Birthday And Biography
He also portrayed Eli Vance in the video game Half-Life 2, showcasing his versatility. Guillaume made history by being the first African-American actor to take on the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
His journey began with his education at Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis, followed by service in the U.S. Army before pursuing his acting career.
To boost his professional image, he adopted the stage name Guillaume, which means William in French.
Profile Summary
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Name | Robert Guillaume |
| Full Name | Robert Peter Williams |
| Gender | Male |
| Born | November 30, 1927 |
| Age | 89 years old |
| Place of Birth | Not specified |
| Zodiac Sign | Not specified |
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Death | October 24, 2017 |
| Place of Death | Los Angeles, California |
Robert Guillaume Net Worth
Robert Guillaume, an American actor and singer whose full name is Robert Peter Williams had a net worth of $5 million.
Career
Robert Guillaume appeared on TV shows like Good Times, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and A Different World. In an episode of All in the Family, he played Dr. Franklin and mentioned his guest appearance in Marcus Welby, M.D.
His first big role was as Benson, a butler, in the ABC series Soap from 1977 to 1979. This character continued in the spin-off series, Benson, which aired from 1979 to 1986.
In 1985, he portrayed abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass in the TV mini-series North and South. This character played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement before the American Civil War.
READ ALSO » Robert Terkla Net Worth, Wife, Age, Military, Politics, Biography
He took on various roles, including marriage counselor Edward Sawyer on The Robert Guillaume Show (1989), Detective Bob Ballard on Pacific Station (1991–1992), and television executive Isaac Jaffe in Aaron Sorkin's acclaimed but short-lived Sports Night (1998–2000). Unfortunately, Guillaume had a mild stroke while filming an episode of Sports Night in 1999. He later recovered, and his character also experienced a stroke on the show. He made a guest appearance on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and appeared in the fifth season of Oprah: Where Are They Now?
Robert Guillaume's distinctive voice was featured in several TV series, including Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Fish Police, and Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. He was most known for lending his voice to Rafiki in The Lion King and its sequels and spin-offs.
He also voiced Mr. Thicknose in The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze and Eli Vance in the 2004 video game Half-Life 2 and its episodic sequels.
Robert Guillaume Wife
Guillaume had two marriages. His first wife was Marlene, and they married in 1955.
They had two sons, Kevin and Jacques. Although Guillaume focused on his career early in their marriage, they didn't divorce until 1984.
They also had a daughter, Melissa, in 1980, whom Patricia helped raise.
In 1986, Guillaume married Donna, and they had a daughter, Rachel. He had another daughter, Patricia, from a different mother, but he wasn't involved in raising her. Sadly, Jacques, one of his sons, passed away in 1990 due to AIDS complications.
Cause of Death
In 1999, while working at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, Guillaume had a minor stroke that caused slight damage and affected his speech.
READ ALSO » Robert Patrick Net Worth, Birthday, Height, Biography, Age
He spent six weeks in the hospital and then followed a recovery plan that included walking and gym sessions.
On October 24, 2017, Guillaume passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California, due to prostate cancer.
