Words by Ime Ekpo
Legendary actor, Broadway show star, voice-over master and honorary Robert Guillaume has passed away at the age of 89 after a battle with prostate cancer. His now widow, Donna Brown Guillaume stated the actor died at their home on Tuesday (October 24), according to The Associated Press.
Many best know Guillaume for his Emmy-award winning character as the factious butler turned sharp lieutenant governor, Benson from the television sitcoms Soap and Benson. He was a part of the first all African-American cast of Broadway show, Guys and Dolls playing the part of Nathan Detroit which earned him a Tony nomination in 1977. Also gifted with a vocal melody, Guillaume was the first African-American to be cast the lead role in Phantom of the Opera where he replaced Michael Crawford.
Throughout his acting career, Robert Guillaume has made a handful of guest appearances on iconic sitcoms, including The Jeffersons, Good Times, Sanford and Son, A Different World and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Guillaume is also renowned worldwide for his role as Dr. Frank Napier in 1989 movie Lean on Me with fellow class act Morgan Freeman, which birthed one of Guillaume’s most memorable phrases of his career, “..contrary to popular opinion, I am the Head N*gga In Charge!”
Another one of Robert Guillaume’s most notable roles is that of a voice-over, in The Lion King as the soothsayer-chiseled Rafiki. In 1995, Guillaume won a Grammy, when he narrated a read-aloud version of The Lion King for the best-spoken word album for children.
Guillaume is survived by his wife Donna Brown Guillaume, their daughter Rachel, along with two other daughters and one son.