Threaded Order Chronological Order
| RIP Robert Guillaume | |
| Posted by: Glitter 04:37 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Tony nominee for his Nathan Detroit, Sportin' Life in New York and Europe, and of course his barrier-breaking performance as the first black Phantom of the Opera. Good rest, sir. | |
| Link | http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/robert-guillaume-dead-dies-benson-1202598171/ |
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| RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( | |
| Posted by: MockingbirdGirl 04:38 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: RIP Robert Guillaume - Glitter 04:37 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Robert Guillaume, who rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms “Soap” and “Benson,” died Oct. 24 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 89. The cause was complications from prostate cancer, said his wife, Donna Brown Guillaume. Among Mr. Guillaume’s achievements was playing Nathan Detroit in the first all-black version of “Guys and Dolls,” earning a Tony nomination in 1977... |
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| Link | Robert Guillaume, star of hit sitcom ‘Benson,’ dies at 89 |
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| re: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( | |
| Posted by: AnyaS 05:32 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( - MockingbirdGirl 04:38 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| RIP. Saw him as the Phantom twice, including on the afternoon that his son died and it was a heartbreaking performance. He was spectacular on Soap and quite instrumental in the development of the character. I'm sure Katherine Helmond is devastated by this news. They had a great friendship. By sheer luck, I was also there the night he announced that he was going into Phantom in LA, and Ms. Helmond was sitting beside him and seemed even more excited about it than he was! Condolences to his family. | |
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| He remembers the prejudice ... and his persistence in breaking down Broadway barriers | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 03:14 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 03:13 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( - AnyaS 05:32 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Link | Robert Guillaume: From Rick McKay's film ''Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age'' |
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| re: He remembers the prejudice ... and his persistence in breaking down Broadway barriers | |
| Posted by: Gregg Culling 04:03 pm EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: He remembers the prejudice ... and his persistence in breaking down Broadway barriers - WaymanWong 03:13 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
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| Thanks Wayman for posting this! Thanks to Mr. Guillaume's persistence, he paved the way for many, I'm sure. He seemed such a fine gentleman, and was a beautiful singer. R.I.P. dear man. | |
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| Robert Guillaume sings 'Something' from 'Mata Hari'? | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 03:03 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( - AnyaS 05:32 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Looking up clips of Guillaume on YouTube, I found that 1981 Showtime production of ''Purlie,'' starring him and the amazing Melba Moore. But I also found a curiosity: an EP of little-known songs by Martin Charnin, that included ''Everyone Has Something to Hide'' from ''Mata Hari.'' Guillaume sings it, apparently as a favor to Charnin. (''Mata Hari'' being a legendary 1967 flop musical that David Merrick closed in D.C.) |
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| Link | Robert Guillaume sings 'Everyone Has Something to Hide' from 'Mata Hari' |
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| re: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( | |
| Posted by: Snowgrace 01:00 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( - AnyaS 05:32 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Shine on, Mr. Guillaume, and thank you. ❤ | |
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| he performed the day his son died? | |
| Posted by: dramedy 06:59 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: re: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( - AnyaS 05:32 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Did you actually mean that? Is so, that is a professional beyond the call of duty. Now actors take a weekend off to sing a song at the Tonys or eat Mercury filled sushi. | |
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| Related, only perfunctorily: Audra in"110" | |
| Posted by: Delvino 02:58 pm EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: he performed the day his son died? - dramedy 06:59 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| I saw the Sunday matinee of "110 in the Shade" the very day that Audra McDonald's father died, or his death was reported. Apparently, she was informed shortly after she came off stage at the performance end (time diff with west coast a factor). She was luminous, of course. And after only a few days off, returned to the show. But I always think: that specific performance has to be one she remembers. We have markers in our lives, and sometimes we recall the last moments before we received the worst news. I also wonder how "110" sits in her memory. It's a father-daughter story, and she apparently adored Cullum, who played Lizzi's father. Just associations that sprang up. | |
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| re: he performed the day his son died? Another example | |
| Posted by: StageDoorJohnny 11:52 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: he performed the day his son died? - dramedy 06:59 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| you're right, it is professional. During WWII Bea Lillie was performing for the troops when she got word her son had been killed. She did the show and continued the tour | |
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| re: he performed the day his son died? | |
| Posted by: AnyaS 07:27 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: he performed the day his son died? - dramedy 06:59 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Yes, I meant it. 12-23.1990. | |
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| barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 04:56 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: RIP Robert Guillaume, age 89 :-( - MockingbirdGirl 04:38 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Wasn't he the second actor to play the Phantom in the US? Not much of a barrier. | |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: bobby2 02:38 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: barrier-breaking? - KingSpeed 04:56 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| I read he was also the first black actor to win an Emmy for a comedic role. | |
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| And here's how rare Guillaume's Emmy wins were ... | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 01:43 pm EDT 10/25/17 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 01:42 pm EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: barrier-breaking? - bobby2 02:38 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
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| True. Guillaume was the first black actor to win Actor in a Comedy for ''Benson'' in 1985 (15 years after Bill Cosby's 1st nomination in Comedy). Astonishingly, no other black actor had won in this category until 32 years later, and it was only last month (!): Donald Glover for ''Atlanta.'' However, Guillaume's first Emmy win was for Supporting Actor in a Comedy for ''Soap'' in 1979. Almost 40 years later, no black has won that category since ... despite nominations for Eddie Murphy, Ron Glass, Tracy Morgan, Tituss Burgess ... |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: MockingbirdGirl 05:12 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: barrier-breaking? - KingSpeed 04:56 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Wasn't he the second actor to play the Phantom in the US? Not much of a barrier. How many other shows at the time had black leads in otherwise all-white casts? Unless it's Othello, not a lot. (And I'm amazed your only comment on his passing is to 'whitesplain' this achievement.) |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 06:31 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: re: barrier-breaking? - MockingbirdGirl 05:12 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Whitesplain? | |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Last Edit: NightMusic77 05:11 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| Posted by: NightMusic77 05:11 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: barrier-breaking? - KingSpeed 04:56 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Considering the fact that he is one of only two African-Americans to play the Phantom (and the first) in its 30-year-long run, yes I think barrier-breaking is appropriate. | |
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| Three actually... | |
| Posted by: TourBoi 08:10 pm EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: barrier-breaking? - NightMusic77 05:11 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| Robert was the first, and fantastic. Norm was the second, but you may not be aware that the present touring Phantom is African-American: Derrick Davis, who is also quite good in the role. | |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 06:28 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
| In reply to: re: barrier-breaking? - NightMusic77 05:11 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| There was no barrier. If he was 50th person and 1st black actor, you could call that barrier breaking. | |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 10:10 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: barrier-breaking? - KingSpeed 06:28 pm EDT 10/24/17 | |
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| There are still barriers all over. It's not just about one production or one show. And it takes more than one actor to help the effort. Guillaume was an important part of the break that is still in process. Period. | |
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| re: barrier-breaking? | |
| Posted by: NightMusic77 12:39 pm EDT 10/25/17 | |
| In reply to: re: barrier-breaking? - Chromolume 10:10 am EDT 10/25/17 | |
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| Thanks, Chromolume. I didn't want to get into an argument but that's exactly right. | |
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