Robert Guillaume

Actor

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his three-hour Archive interview, Robert Guillaume (1927-2017) discusses his lengthy career in television, which began with guest appearances on the series Julia, All in the Family and The Jeffersons. He describes originating the character of "Benson DuBois" in the series Soap and continuing to play the role in the spin-off, Benson (1979-86). He speaks eloquently and openly about avoiding stereotypes in his portrayal of "Benson" and the evolution of the character from Soap to Benson. He details several other television performances, including his work in The Robert Guillaume Show (1989), and discusses his lengthy stage career, which included replacing Michael Crawford in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera. Guillaume also speaks of his then-current role in the ABC sitcom Sports Night which premiered in 1998 and the stroke that sidelined him during the series. Meryl Marshall conducted the interview in Encino, CA on March 24, 1999.

"One of the things I was trying to avoid was dignity, that terrible term that you're either a buffoon if you're black or you play it with dignity. I hated that idea because I knew that dignity did not make people laugh. I wanted desperately to make people laugh. So I found a way to say what I was going to say in the script without demeaning black people or myself. At the same time, I found a way to do comedy that I don't think many blacks had found before that -- that you could be yourself and make people laugh."

People Talking About ...

Robert Guillaume

Highlights

Robert Guillaume on the end of Benson

Robert Guillaume on forming a publishing company, The Confetti Company, to publish children's books with African-American characters

Robert Guillaume on his favorite episode of Benson

Robert Guillaume on the work of which he's proudest

Robert Guillaume on his pursuit to be funny without being a buffoon; playing a part with "dignity" on Soap

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on going to Catholic School; on joining the Army in 1945; on his college years and transitioning from a business to music major; on the Aspen Music Festival; on theater work in Colorado

On moving to New York to do theater; on his first television appearance, on Julia; on the difficulty of black actors getting on television

Chapter 2

On his first television role on Julia; on appearing on Marcus Welby, M.D., All in the Family, and on The Jeffersons

On getting the role of "Benson" on Soap and how he played his character; on audience response to "Benson"

Chapter 3

On fellow cast members on Soap; on the controversy the series caused; on working with creator Susan Harris; on his favorite storyline

On starring in Benson, the spin-off of Soap; on the cast and chemistry on Soap; on his favorite episodes and directors

Chapter 4

On the concept of Benson; on his contract dispute; on his approach to playing the character; on the end of the series

On producing a television movie; on producing and making guest appearances; on producing and starring in The Robert Guillaume Show; on episodes airing out of order

Chapter 5

On working with network executives; on "Phantom of the Opera"; on short-lived series

On his personal life; on forming a publishing company with his second wife

Robert Guillaume on co-starring in Sports Night; on situation comedies; on the importance of a good script; on the work of which he's proudest; on influential people in his career and the aftermath of his stroke

Chapter 6

On African-Americans behind and in front of the camera; on how he would like to be remembered; on colleagues

On playing "Sportin' Life" on Porgy and Bess

Shows

All in the Family

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Robert Guillaume on appearing on All in the Family in the episode "Chain Letter" (airdate: October 20, 1975)

Benson

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Robert Guillaume on starring in Benson

Robert Guillaume on the concept of Benson; his contract dispute; his approach to playing the character; the end of the series

Robert Guillaume on the end of Benson

Benson: "The President's Double"

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Robert Guillaume on his favorite episode of Benson - "The President's Double"

Jeffersons, The

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Robert Guillaume on appearing on The Jeffersons in the episode "George Won't Talk" (airdate: November 8, 1975)

Julia

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Robert Guillaume on his first television appearance, on Julia

Robert Guillaume on his first television role on Julia

Marcus Welby, M.D.

Emmy Awards

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Robert Guillaume on winning two Emmy awards

Underrepresented Voices

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Robert Guillaume on the difficulty of black actors getting on television

Robert Guillaume on his pursuit to be funny without being a buffoon or playing a part with "dignity" on Soap

Robert Guillaume on not emphasizing racial issues directly with his character "Benson" on Soap; but finding ways to make a statement his first television role on Julia

Robert Guillaume on audience response to his character "Benson" on Soap

Robert Guillaume on how the show Benson and the main character were categorized

Robert Guillaume on other African-American actors on television in the late 1970s and early 1980s

Robert Guillaume on multiculturalism

Professions

Actor

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Robert Guillaume on the difference between acting for film or television

Robert Guilluame on the challenge of waiting for the punchline during a tense scene on All in the Family

Robert Guillaume on his pursuit to be funny without being a buffoon or playing a part with "dignity" on Soap

Robert Guillaume on not emphasizing racial issues directly with his character "Benson" on Soap; but finding ways to make a statement

Genres

Comedy Series

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Robert Guillaume on starring in Benson

Robert Guillaume on the concept of Benson; his contract dispute; his approach to playing the character; the end of the series

Katherine Helmond

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Robert Guillaume

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

All in the Family

Benson

Benson: "The President's Double"

Jeffersons, The

Julia

Marcus Welby, M.D.