Robert Guillaume Biography (1927?-)

Born November 30, 1927 (some sources say 1937), in St. Louis, MO; married Marlene Williams (divorced, 1983); married Donna Brown (a television producer),1984; children: (first marriage) two sons, one other child; (second marriage)Rachel.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, producer, director, song performer
Birth Details
November 30, 1927?
St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Stage Appearances
  • (Broadway debut) Ako, Kwamina, Fifty-Fourth Street Theatre, New York City, 1961
  • Carl, Fly Blackbird, Mayfair Theatre, New York City, 1962
  • 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, then BillyRose Theatre, New York City, 1972
  • Benito Cereno, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1975-76
  • Marshall, Apple Pie, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public/Anspacher 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
  • Cyrano--The Musical, Broadway production, 1994
  • Made stage debut as Billy Bigelow, Carousel; also appeared as title role, Phantom of the Opera; in Golden Boy, New York City; inTambourines to Glory, New York City; in Finian's Rainbow, New York City; in Music! Music!, New York City; in Othello, NewYork City; in Porgy and Bess, New York City; and in 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
  • Mr. Reed, The Meteor Man, 1993
  • Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King (animated), 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
  • Voice, The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina (animated), Miramax, 2000
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Benson, Soap, ABC, 1977-79
  • Benson Dubois (title role), Benson, ABC, 1979-86
  • Dr. Edward Sawyer, The Robert Guillaume Show, ABC, 1989
  • Detective Bob Ballard, Pacific Station, 1991
  • Voice of Detective Catfish, Fish Police (animated), 1992
  • Voice of Rafiki, The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa (animated), The Disney Channel, 1995
  • Isaac Jaffe, Sports Night, ABC, 1998-2000
  • 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, 1989
  • Eugene St. Clair, The Penthouse, ABC, 1989
  • Uncle Buddy/W B Jackson, You Must Remember This, 1992
  • Congressman Sydley Sellers, Mastergate, 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!, The Family Channel, 1996
  • Merlin, Crystal Cave (also known as The Crystal Cave: Lessons from the Teachings of Merlin), 1996
  • Merlin, Alchemy, 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
  • Miniseries
  • Frederick Douglass, North and South, ABC, 1985
  • Jolson Mossburger, A Good Day to Die (also known as Children ofthe Dust), CBS, 1995
  • Ambassador Lee Lancaster, Pandora's Clock (also known as Doomsday Virus), NBC, 1996
  • Specials
  • 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 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
  • Host, Magic with the Stars, NBC, 1982
  • Texaco Star Theater: Opening Night, NBC, 1982
  • Host, The World's Funniest Commercial Goofs, ABC, 1983
  • Title role, Purlie, PBS, 1983
  • The 38th Annual Tony Awards, ABC, 1985
  • Life's Most Embarrassing Moments, 1985
  • The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 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
  • 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, 1989
  • Host, SST: Screen, Stage, Television, ABC, 1989
  • The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, syndicated, 1990
  • Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, 1990
  • Host, Disney's Great American Celebration, 1991
  • Himself, 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
  • Host, In a New Light, 1992
  • Gleason Golightly, "Space Traders," Cosmic Slop, HBO, 1994
  • Cincinnati Pops Holiday: Erich Kunzel's Halloween Spooktacular, PBS, 1996
  • Narrator, Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special, HBO, 1997
  • Shari's Passover Surprise, PBS, 1997
  • Host, The Sixth Annual Trumpet Awards, 1998
  • Presenter, The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 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 "HappilyEver After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999
  • Narrator, Empress's 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, 1999
  • Narrator, Three Little Pigs: From the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Talesfor Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 1999
  • The 31st Annual NAACP Image Awards, 2000
  • Narrator, Aesop's Fables: A Whodunit Musical: An Animated Specialfrom the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000
  • Presenter, Essence Awards 2000, 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 "HappilyEver After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000
  • Also appeared in Mel and Susan Together.
  • Pilots
  • Host, It Hurts Only When You Laugh, NBC, 1983
  • Episodic
  • "The Wheel Deal," Julia, 1969
  • Carothers, "The Soft Phase of Peace," Marcus Welby, M.D., 1970
  • 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
  • Frank Stoner, Hotel, ABC, 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 ofBel-Air, NBC, 1994
  • Professor Bernard Slater, "Porky's Revenge," Sparks, UPN, 1996
  • Martin Woolridge, "Christmas," Promised Land, CBS, 1996
  • Dr. Baxter, Goode Behavior, 1997
  • Judge Dawes, "Jones vs. God," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
  • Arthur, Dee's father, "All This and Turkey, Too," Moesha, UPN,2000
  • Also appeared in Dinah and Jim Nabors' Show.
  • Television Executive Producer
  • Series
  • Executive producer, The Robert Guillaume Show, ABC, 1989
  • Movies
  • (With Phil Margo) The Kid with the 200 I.Q., NBC, 1983
  • The Fantastic World of D. C. Collins, 1984
  • Television Work
  • Specials
  • Executive producer and director, John Grin's Christmas (also known as Christmas), ABC, 1986
  • "The Music Makers: An ASCAP Celebration of American Music at Wolf Trap,"Great Performances, PBS, 1987
  • Co-executive producer, SST: Screen, Stage, Television, ABC, 1989
  • RECORDINGS
  • Taped Readings
  • (With Christopher Noth) Kiss the Girls, Time Warner AudioBook, 1995

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • Jet, October 11, 1999, p. 32; December 11, 2000, p. 30.
    • People Weekly, October 11, 1999, p. 77.
    • TV Guide, March 27, 1999.

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