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Robert Guillaume was an American actor and singer, known for his role as Benson in the television series Soap and its spin-off Benson, as well as for voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and related media thereof. In a career that spanned more than 50 years he worked extensively on stage, television and film. For his efforts he was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, and twice won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of the character Benson DuBois, once in 1979 on Soap and in 1985 on Benson. He also won a Grammy Award in 1995 for his spoken word performance of an audiobook version of The Lion King.
Birth Name
Robert Peter Williams
Born
Wednesday, 30 November 1927
Died
Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Once Upon a Studio | Rafiki | 2023 |
| See It Loud: The History of Black Television | Self | 2023 |
| Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | Self | 2021 |
| The 72nd Annual Tony Awards | Self | 2018 |
| Oprah: Where Are They Now? | Self | 2012 |
| Home & Family | Self | 2012 |
| Columbus Circle | Howard Miles | 2012 |
| Satin | Doc Bishop / Doc | 2011 |
| Actors Reporter Interviews | Self | 2009 |
| The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry | Mr. Barnes | 2008 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
Director Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
Producer Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1985 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1985 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Won |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1984 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1983 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1982 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1980 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Won |
