RIP Robert Guillaume, "BENSON" Emmy-Winning 'Soap' Actor, Dies at 89

[get these nets]

While playing in "Guys and Dolls, he was asked to test for the role of an acerbic butler of a governor's mansion in "Soap," a primetime TV sitcom that satirized soap operas.

"The minute I saw the script, I knew I had a live one," he recalled in 2001. "Every role was written against type, especially Benson, who wasn't subservient to anyone. To me, Benson was the revenge for all those stereotyped guys who looked like Benson in the '40s and '50s (movies) and had to keep their mouths shut."

The character became so popular that ABC was persuaded to launch a spinoff, simply called "Benson," which lasted from 1979 to 1986. The series made Guillaume wealthy and famous, but he regretted that Benson's wit had to be toned down to make him more appealing as the lead star.

Flip the script

 

[Stuntone]

Rest in Peace OG. Dude was everywhere on tv back in the day.

 

[Amerikan Melanin]

Damn he had a rough life. Rip

 

[Dad]

i didn't know he was in phantom of the opera

sleep well.

 

[Buzzed Lightyear]

He even played on an episode of Saved By The Bell: The College Years. The man was everywhere.
R.I.P.

 

[Grand Eeezus Maxwell]

Benson
Rafiki
Eli Vance from Half-Life 2(for the gamers)
and many, many more.

RIP to a legend.

 

[parallax]

rafiki is in the stars now

R.I.P

 

[get these nets]

mudbone from good times

that's fishbone

 

[General Mills]

Contrary to popular opinion.....I am the HNIC

RIP

 

[Clayton Endicott]

Damn... I knew this day was coming . Always played dignified roles. RIP Mr. Dubois/Dr. Napier, Rafiki

 

[surv2syn]

RIP. I still watch Benson episodes on Kodi.

mudbone from good times

you mean "Fishbone". Mudbone was a Richard Pryor character.

 

[BiggWebb79]

R.I.P Robert Guillaume

 

[Larry Lambo]

Benson was that dude.

 

[Vandelay]

Contrary to popular opinion.....I am the HNIC

RIP

He delivered this so powerfully...

 

[get these nets]

RIP. I still watch Benson episodes on Kodi.



you mean "Fishbone". Mudbone was a Richard Pryor character.

thanks....caught it before your post