RIP Benson.
October 24, 2017 3:06 PM Subscribe
Robert Guillaume, forever known as Benson, has died. A versatile performer, he stole the show in an episode of Good Times and appeared in an all African-American revival of Guys and Dolls as Nathan Detroit. He once replaced Michael Crawford in a production of Phantom of the Opera; here he sings The Music of the Night.
Aw, man. I was such a fan of his on Benson and later when I got around to Sports Night he was lovely.
posted by PussKillian at 3:12 PM on October 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by PussKillian at 3:12 PM on October 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
He'll always be Isaac Jaffe from Sports Night to me (which, yes, made Half-Life 2 a little confusing). "When you come to work for me, you show up to play." May he have all the cheese graters he wants.
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posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on October 24, 2017 [23 favorites]
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posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on October 24, 2017 [23 favorites]
God I loved Benson so much. And everything else he did...
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posted by elsietheeel at 3:16 PM on October 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
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posted by elsietheeel at 3:16 PM on October 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2017
Oh, this is unexpected and sad. He's indelible.
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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Everything he did was good. He was a master at keeping his dignity while doing comedy, which is doubly hard for a black actor. But his best work as Benson was when he had Rene Auberjonois as his foil.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:27 PM on October 24, 2017 [27 favorites]
Everything he did was good. He was a master at keeping his dignity while doing comedy, which is doubly hard for a black actor. But his best work as Benson was when he had Rene Auberjonois as his foil.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:27 PM on October 24, 2017 [27 favorites]
Linda Holmes: When Robert Guillaume Played Aaron Sorkin's First Unforgettable Leader
posted by rewil at 3:28 PM on October 24, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by rewil at 3:28 PM on October 24, 2017 [10 favorites]
I never watched Sports Night, but a Facebook friend posted two Guillaume monologues from there, and now I think I need to find time for the whole series. One was the first one zacklipton linked above. The other was this editorial comment on the Confederate flag.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:31 PM on October 24, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:31 PM on October 24, 2017 [15 favorites]
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Between Sports Night and Half-Life 2, Guillaume was a big fixture in my life in the mid-2000s.
posted by tobascodagama at 3:34 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Between Sports Night and Half-Life 2, Guillaume was a big fixture in my life in the mid-2000s.
posted by tobascodagama at 3:34 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sad news. Guillaume was such a fantastic actor. Every role he played, he infused with dignity, humor, humanity and grace. Zachlipton linked to one of his best monologues from Sports Night, above. "...if you feel that strongly about something you have a responsibility to try and change my mind."
I watched Benson as a kid and loved it. He and René Auberjonois stole that show and made it an overwhelming success. Most of the first two seasons of Benson are on DailyMotion.
Rest in Peace, sir.
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posted by zarq at 3:38 PM on October 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
I watched Benson as a kid and loved it. He and René Auberjonois stole that show and made it an overwhelming success. Most of the first two seasons of Benson are on DailyMotion.
Rest in Peace, sir.
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posted by zarq at 3:38 PM on October 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
I was a little young for Benson, but he was the best boss ever on Sports Night. They wrote his real-life stroke into the show, because they loved working with him. And his return is still one of my favorite and most heartwarming moments of television ever.
As Isaac Jaffe, he delivered a terrific speech about management which is about 67% of what I know about leading people; he told off a privileged white kid who compared himself to Rosa Parks; and he talked about how sometimes amazing shit happens when you're looking the other way, but maybe it's better to think about the long term.
He brought tremendous warmth and humanity to his parts. I'm going to miss him.
posted by aureliobuendia at 3:39 PM on October 24, 2017 [13 favorites]
As Isaac Jaffe, he delivered a terrific speech about management which is about 67% of what I know about leading people; he told off a privileged white kid who compared himself to Rosa Parks; and he talked about how sometimes amazing shit happens when you're looking the other way, but maybe it's better to think about the long term.
He brought tremendous warmth and humanity to his parts. I'm going to miss him.
posted by aureliobuendia at 3:39 PM on October 24, 2017 [13 favorites]
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posted by pointystick at 3:45 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by pointystick at 3:45 PM on October 24, 2017
From Purlie on Broadway to Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night, and everything in between (Rafiki!), the man was a real talent, and pure class. This one hurts in a different way than most of the others we’ve all been through these past two years.
., sir. . indeed.
posted by tzikeh at 4:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
., sir. . indeed.
posted by tzikeh at 4:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by MovableBookLady at 4:06 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by MovableBookLady at 4:06 PM on October 24, 2017
He was good in everything he did. The type of actor that poured his souls into his parts, no matter how big or small, there was passion in his acting and you bought into whatever he was doing.
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posted by Fizz at 4:19 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by Fizz at 4:19 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Well now I'm crying on a ferry after watching that Confederate flag bit. So thanks, I guess.
posted by greermahoney at 4:26 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 4:26 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Aww, Benson was always like an adult friend I never had. I'm not sure if I watched every episode, but I saw a lot of them. I also have his first (and only) 12".
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posted by rhizome at 4:39 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by rhizome at 4:39 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by Silverstone at 4:51 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by Silverstone at 4:51 PM on October 24, 2017
Man, that voice! I swear I could listen to him read the phone book.
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posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:55 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:55 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:56 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:56 PM on October 24, 2017
Damn it. I loved to watch Soap with my mom as a kid.
And even though Benson wasn't the same weird anarchic comedy, I got such good feelings from it, I watched it religiously anyway. He was so damn likeable.
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posted by lumpenprole at 4:57 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
And even though Benson wasn't the same weird anarchic comedy, I got such good feelings from it, I watched it religiously anyway. He was so damn likeable.
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posted by lumpenprole at 4:57 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Always and forever my first and best Phantom. Isaac Jaffe left an indelible mark on me, but Robert's darkly angry Opera Ghost was a revelation.
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posted by ApathyGirl at 4:59 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by ApathyGirl at 4:59 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by mikelieman at 5:00 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by mikelieman at 5:00 PM on October 24, 2017
I watched Benson religiously as a kid, and loved Guillaume's dynamic with Auberjonois.
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posted by thomas j wise at 5:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
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posted by thomas j wise at 5:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
I always enjoyed seeing him work, but I especially enjoyed his work on Soap, Benson, and Sport Night. As said above, he brought dignity to his roles, which wasn't always easy.
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posted by mosk at 5:05 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by mosk at 5:05 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Benson and Isaac and animated critters and stage work — that’s some damn range.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:05 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:05 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
If my username makes sense to you, you'll understand that this post's title gave me a moment's pause...
posted by uosuaq at 5:31 PM on October 24, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 5:31 PM on October 24, 2017 [13 favorites]
Wow. This is weird.
Two days ago, I was washing dishes at the kitchen sink and Robert Guillaume popped into mind out of nowhere. I mean, I wasn't thinking of anything related to him that I could tell.
Anyway, after thinking about him for about ten seconds, I said, out loud, to nobody: "Dude's a hell of an actor." And went back to doing dishes.
. for a hell of an actor.
posted by darkstar at 5:33 PM on October 24, 2017 [7 favorites]
Two days ago, I was washing dishes at the kitchen sink and Robert Guillaume popped into mind out of nowhere. I mean, I wasn't thinking of anything related to him that I could tell.
Anyway, after thinking about him for about ten seconds, I said, out loud, to nobody: "Dude's a hell of an actor." And went back to doing dishes.
. for a hell of an actor.
posted by darkstar at 5:33 PM on October 24, 2017 [7 favorites]
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posted by dannyboybell at 5:33 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by dannyboybell at 5:33 PM on October 24, 2017
Started out with watching him as Benson as a kid, and loved him. Moved onto Sports Night, and he was even more impressive. Right now I’m watching all of Soap, and he was the steady moral centre of so much anarchy and silliness, allowing that series to be as socially groundbreaking and daring as it was.
Always great, always impressive, always good for a sly remark.
Safe journey, sir.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:45 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Always great, always impressive, always good for a sly remark.
Safe journey, sir.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:45 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh damn. I loved Benson. That an Night Court. Most of the jokes flew over my head, but the characters were dynamic enough to keep me interested. A sad thing.
posted by Brocktoon at 6:01 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by Brocktoon at 6:01 PM on October 24, 2017
[Ding-dong]
...
"You want me to get that?"
posted by Guy Smiley at 6:12 PM on October 24, 2017 [10 favorites]
...
"You want me to get that?"
posted by Guy Smiley at 6:12 PM on October 24, 2017 [10 favorites]
One of my absolute favorites, and for whatever reason, the actor on tv who always reminds me of my dad. You'll be missed, sir.
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posted by Navelgazer at 6:20 PM on October 24, 2017
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posted by Navelgazer at 6:20 PM on October 24, 2017
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posted by Room 641-A at 6:23 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by Room 641-A at 6:23 PM on October 24, 2017
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posted by CommonSense at 6:48 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by CommonSense at 6:48 PM on October 24, 2017
He was fantastic as Isaac. That kind of Sorkin dialogue is not easy to sell.
posted by praemunire at 7:29 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by praemunire at 7:29 PM on October 24, 2017
I really liked Good Times - I was about 10 years old when it was on, and it was pretty educational to me
posted by thelonius at 7:34 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 7:34 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Roger Dodger at 8:03 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by Roger Dodger at 8:03 PM on October 24, 2017
I was so little, watching Benson and not really understanding it but loving it really fiercely. It was so gratifying to see him on Sports Night in my twentysomethings and he just seemed like such a really good man.
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posted by Lyn Never at 8:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Lyn Never at 8:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Dude was so much more than his TV appearances. All black cast of Guys & Dolls! Porgy & Bess! Phantom (taking over for Michael Crawford).
I mean, he could fucking SING!
He's been around basically all my life, and I've loved him in everything I've seen. He gave much to us, and his memory will continue to live a long time.
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posted by hippybear at 8:11 PM on October 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
I mean, he could fucking SING!
He's been around basically all my life, and I've loved him in everything I've seen. He gave much to us, and his memory will continue to live a long time.
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posted by hippybear at 8:11 PM on October 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
Dude was so much more than his TV appearances.
I'm not quoting this to dismiss his TV greatness because I cannot even begin to describe how important Soap is to me, but I can't argue with the sentiment. The man was the definition of how black people have to be twice as good to get half as much. Even if he was "just" Benson, I'd be sad at his passing even though he'd lived a full life. But there's so much more. Thank you, sir.
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posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:24 PM on October 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm not quoting this to dismiss his TV greatness because I cannot even begin to describe how important Soap is to me, but I can't argue with the sentiment. The man was the definition of how black people have to be twice as good to get half as much. Even if he was "just" Benson, I'd be sad at his passing even though he'd lived a full life. But there's so much more. Thank you, sir.
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posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:24 PM on October 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
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posted by killy willy at 8:38 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by killy willy at 8:38 PM on October 24, 2017
Robert Guillaume as Isaac Jaffe was the best part of Sports Night, without a doubt. Guillaume was amazing in every role he ever acted in, but I'll always think of him as Isaac.
posted by defenestration at 8:39 PM on October 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by defenestration at 8:39 PM on October 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
He was so good on Soap, he was given his own series (Benson), and deserved the heck out of it.
He was a great actor, and I always enjoyed seeing him on stage. Time to watch Sports Night now.
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posted by el io at 8:54 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
He was a great actor, and I always enjoyed seeing him on stage. Time to watch Sports Night now.
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posted by el io at 8:54 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
. uosuaq inspired a username I have elsewhere, papuadn, and papuadn is how I feel with this news
posted by lazycomputerkids at 10:01 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by lazycomputerkids at 10:01 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by spinifex23 at 10:04 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by spinifex23 at 10:04 PM on October 24, 2017
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posted by Kevin Street at 11:40 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by Kevin Street at 11:40 PM on October 24, 2017
For those of us who weren't born when Soap or Benson were on the air, and were too young to watch Sports Night, Robert Guillaume was the voice of grandfatherly resistance leader Eli Vance from the Half Life 2 series. And coming after Marc Laidlaw's obituary for that series, this feels like the button on a certain era of gaming history.
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posted by firechicago at 4:43 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by firechicago at 4:43 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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so many memories. papa had a full collection he'd taped on the VCR
posted by infini at 4:47 AM on October 25, 2017
so many memories. papa had a full collection he'd taped on the VCR
posted by infini at 4:47 AM on October 25, 2017
As el io already pointed out, he earned his own show off of "Soap," which ... man, if you grew up watching Soap, that's one hell of an accomplishment. Talk about a show with a fantastic cast. I think I enjoyed his scenes with Jessica (Katherine Helmond) the most. He had a quick retort and sarcasm to spare, but it was his kindness that really resonated for me. I also watched "Benson" religiously, but it was an entirely different type of comedy and didn't quite fill the void of "Soap."
(And when the **** are they going to get around to putting the entirety of "Benson" on DVD, anyway?)
RIP to a fine actor, fellow St. Louisan, and by all accounts I've heard a good man as well.
posted by jzb at 4:49 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
(And when the **** are they going to get around to putting the entirety of "Benson" on DVD, anyway?)
RIP to a fine actor, fellow St. Louisan, and by all accounts I've heard a good man as well.
posted by jzb at 4:49 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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I remember joking with my friends back in the nineties that since Rene Auberjonois was in DS9 and Ethan Phillips was in Voyager, they should cast Guillaume in the next Trek series to continue the "Benson reemployment" program.
I'd recommend "Lean on Me" just to see Guillaume square off with pissed off Morgan Freeman. It's a thing of beauty.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 4:51 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
I remember joking with my friends back in the nineties that since Rene Auberjonois was in DS9 and Ethan Phillips was in Voyager, they should cast Guillaume in the next Trek series to continue the "Benson reemployment" program.
I'd recommend "Lean on Me" just to see Guillaume square off with pissed off Morgan Freeman. It's a thing of beauty.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 4:51 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
I grew up on Soap. I never saw him elsewhere, but I always respected his work. Clearly I need to block out time to watch his other performances.
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posted by XtinaS at 5:08 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by XtinaS at 5:08 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
For those of us who weren't born when Soap or Benson were on the air, and were too young to watch Sports Night, Robert Guillaume was the voice of grandfatherly resistance leader Eli Vance from the Half Life 2 series.
It's interesting to me what a generational divide his career represents (read: a reminder that I have not in fact been 27 for a long time). I'm in my 40s, grew up on Benson, and was delighted when I was an adult and saw him on Sports Night. He hadn't been on TV with regularity for a long time. I didn't play Half-Life 2 until years after its release, and was overjoyed to hear his voice (and Louis Gossett, Jr. as the Vortigaunts) because Benson is in my videogame! Benson is in my videogame! Yet there's a whole generation of grown-ass adults who only know his voice from that. That's quite a tribute, that he's not only known for something he did over three decades ago.
Those who have not watched Sports Night, it's worth a watch, particularly for Guillaume, but you'll have to get through the early episodes when the network still insisted on a laugh track, which you may find a bit grating. It's from before Sorkin got full-of-himself famous, and that plus the fact that the show had to continually fight to stay on the air means it's not quite as sermony as his later shows got.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:27 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's interesting to me what a generational divide his career represents (read: a reminder that I have not in fact been 27 for a long time). I'm in my 40s, grew up on Benson, and was delighted when I was an adult and saw him on Sports Night. He hadn't been on TV with regularity for a long time. I didn't play Half-Life 2 until years after its release, and was overjoyed to hear his voice (and Louis Gossett, Jr. as the Vortigaunts) because Benson is in my videogame! Benson is in my videogame! Yet there's a whole generation of grown-ass adults who only know his voice from that. That's quite a tribute, that he's not only known for something he did over three decades ago.
Those who have not watched Sports Night, it's worth a watch, particularly for Guillaume, but you'll have to get through the early episodes when the network still insisted on a laugh track, which you may find a bit grating. It's from before Sorkin got full-of-himself famous, and that plus the fact that the show had to continually fight to stay on the air means it's not quite as sermony as his later shows got.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:27 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
Came in to say what jzb did. Soap was a fantastic show with a ton of breakout performances - that Guillaume was the one who earned a spin-off from it - and a hugely successful one at that, is another tribute to his talent. There used to be so few comedies out there that weren't afraid to be outright intelligent. He always played smart, often the smartest guy in the room, and yet was never in any way a geek. That says a lot either about the respect Hollywood must have had for him - or his own strength to fight for the roles or representation he wanted. Either way is a compliment.
So glad to see so many people here appreciated him and grew up on Benson like I did (I found Soap because I was such a fan of Benson*, not the other way around).
This is a loss.
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* and to a lesser extent, Jay Johnson - hey, it was the 70's and early 80's!
posted by Mchelly at 6:05 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
So glad to see so many people here appreciated him and grew up on Benson like I did (I found Soap because I was such a fan of Benson*, not the other way around).
This is a loss.
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* and to a lesser extent, Jay Johnson - hey, it was the 70's and early 80's!
posted by Mchelly at 6:05 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 6:17 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 6:17 AM on October 25, 2017
He was so good in everything.
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posted by mixedmetaphors at 8:22 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by mixedmetaphors at 8:22 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
He was drily funny as the unflappable Assistant D.A. in the underrated Neil Simon comedy Seems Like Old Times.
Also, Mark Evanier related a fun little story involving Guillaume and a voiceover audition gone awry.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:08 AM on October 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
Also, Mark Evanier related a fun little story involving Guillaume and a voiceover audition gone awry.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:08 AM on October 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
Atom Eyes, that voiceover story is fantastic. Thanks for sharing it!
posted by tobascodagama at 10:27 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by tobascodagama at 10:27 AM on October 25, 2017
Ha! The NYT admits that they write obituaries beforehand. From their obit:
Mr. Guillaume said Benson’s sharp tongue and dignified mien had allowed him to transcend his station while getting laughs. “What made the humor was that he didn’t care what people thought about him,” he said of the character in an interview for this obituary in 2011. “He wasn’t trying to be mean; he was just trying to be his own man.”posted by Melismata at 11:42 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's never been a secret, it's standard industry practice for well-known public figures. There have been a number of NYT obits in recent years where the main obit writer actually pre-deceased the obit subject.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:50 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:50 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yes I know, but I've never seen them actually admit the practice before! :) (Maybe other papers have already done so...)
posted by Melismata at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Melismata, a documentary was released earlier this year called "Obit". Director is Vanessa Gould. The doc follows the people responsible for the New York Times obit pages. Haven't seen the doc, but Bruce Weber and Margalit Fox were interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air in April. They touched on pre-written obits in the interview. The entire thing is fascinating.
posted by zarq at 4:41 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zarq at 4:41 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Watching a random Benson episode, this quip didn't quite age as expected:
Clayton: You took your own sweet time getting here
Benson: Well if you wanted OJ Simpson, you should have asked for him
posted by zachlipton at 5:02 PM on October 25, 2017 [5 favorites]
Clayton: You took your own sweet time getting here
Benson: Well if you wanted OJ Simpson, you should have asked for him
posted by zachlipton at 5:02 PM on October 25, 2017 [5 favorites]
That's too bad. Here is my daughters' favorite performance - him reading Guji Guji. They love the way he says his name in the beginning.
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:55 AM on October 26, 2017
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:55 AM on October 26, 2017
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I was the right age to have loved Robert Guillaume in both Benson and Sports Night, but what I'll remember him for is his performance in the musical Purlie. It was rare for me to see a whole musical on TV, and he was outstanding in this one. A reasonably clear version is finally available on YouTube.
posted by booksherpa at 8:45 PM on October 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
I was the right age to have loved Robert Guillaume in both Benson and Sports Night, but what I'll remember him for is his performance in the musical Purlie. It was rare for me to see a whole musical on TV, and he was outstanding in this one. A reasonably clear version is finally available on YouTube.
posted by booksherpa at 8:45 PM on October 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
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