Robert Guillaume

Robert Guillaume (1927-2017) was an American actor and singer known for his role as Benson DuBois in the television series Soap and its spin-off, Benson. He also voiced the character Rafiki in The Lion King and played Eli Vance in the video game Half-Life 2. Guillaume had a career that spanned over 50 years, working extensively in stage, television, and film. He received a Tony Award nomination for Guys and Dolls and won two Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Benson DuBois. In addition, he won a Grammy Award for his spoken word performance in The Lion King audiobook. Guillaume was also notable for being the first African-American actor to play the title role in The Phantom of the Opera.