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Robert Guillaume Biography

Birth Name:Robert Peter Williams

Birth Place:Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

Has donated time and resources to TransAfrica, AmFar, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and the Special Olympics among others, and is a founding member of Artists for a New South Africa
While working on voice training after military service and college, he worked as a cook and a streetcar conductor
His gravelly, gregarious voice made it possible for him to voice such memorable animated characters as the mandrill Rafiki in "The Lion King" and Eli Vance in the video game "Half-Life 2․"
Performed in an impressive selection of Broadway musicals before switching his focus to television comedy, ultimately becoming the first African-American to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
His ambition as a young man was to become the first African American tenor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
When he replaced actor Michael Crawford as The Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera," he became the first African American to play the role, causing controversy among some theater patrons despite receiving rave reviews

Awards

1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series: winner
1980Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1983Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1984Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
1987Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1989Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a New Comedy Series: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
2000Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2001Video Premiere Award-Best Animated Character Performance: nominated
2001Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2004TV Land Award-Best Broadcast Butler: nominated