Actor Robert Guillaume, best known for his starring role in the 1980s TV sitcom Benson, has died. Reports indicate the actor passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles from prostate cancer. He was 89.
A native of St. Louis, Mo. Guillaume played the lead role in Benson portraying a butler from 1979 to 1986 on ABC. The show was a spin-off of the soap opera parody Soap where he played the same character. He earned two Emmy Awards for his role on both shows in 1979 winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and in 1985 winning Outstanding LeadActor in a Comedy Series
Prior to being on television, Guillaume was in several Broadway musicals including Tambourines to Glory, Guys and Dolls, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Purlie!.
Guillaume also appeared in a number of films including Lean On Me, The Meteor Man, The Lion King and Big Fish.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Brown-Guillaume, and three children.