Back in 2014, Norm Lewis made headlines when he became the first African American to play the title character in Broadway’s version of The Phantom of the Opera. But Lewis wasn’t actually the very first African American actor to ever play the role.
That honor forever belongs to Robert Guillaume, who became the stage’s first African American Phantom in the 1990 Los Angeles production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.
Today we’re sad to report that the Emmy-winning Guillaume has passed away at the age of 89, due to complications from a longtime bout with prostate cancer.
Robert Guillaume’s 50-year career as a film and television actor notably saw him starring as Benson DuBois in the TV series “Soap,” for which he won his first Primetime Emmy in 1979. Guillaume reprised the role for the spinoff series “Benson,” also winning the Primetime Emmy for his performance and additionally grabbing three Golden Globe nominations.
Other credits on Guillaume’s lengthy resume include 1994’s The Lion King, wherein he voiced Rafiki, Spy Hard, “The Outer Limits,” and 2002 horror film 13th Child.