# Add Benson to the list. . .\[RIP Robert Guillaume\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758 "2017-10-24T20:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/1 "2017-10-24T20:58:48Z")
Robert Guillaume passed away today. And just like wheb Doris Roberts and Glenne Headly died, I’m surprised at how old they were. [Benson was almost 90!](http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailycourier/obituary.aspx?n=robert-guillaume&pid=187042313) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/2 "2017-10-24T21:18:24Z")
I guess he finally had to answer the doorbell. ☹ RIP. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/3 "2017-10-24T21:29:21Z")
I’m not sure I can think of a more likeable actor. RIP, Governor. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/4 "2017-10-24T21:40:37Z")
I’m almost relieved. When I read the thread title, I was thinking there were going to a bunch of allegations that Robert Guillaume had been sexually harassing the actresses he worked with. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/5 "2017-10-24T21:57:25Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I guess he finally had to answer the doorbell. ☹ You want me to get that? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/6 "2017-10-24T22:00:01Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > You want me to get that? If you don’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/7 "2017-10-24T22:00:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m almost relieved. When I read the thread title, I was thinking there were going to a bunch of allegations that Robert Guillaume had been sexually harassing the actresses he worked with. Yeah, the title does need clarification. I sent a report for it to be changed. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/8 "2017-10-24T22:14:56Z")
I’ve never seen “Benson”, but I think of Robert Guillaume I think of his role as Isaac Jaffee on “Sports Night” and as Rafiki in “The Lion King”. Loved him in those roles. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/9 "2017-10-24T22:23:29Z")
I’ve edited the title so it’s a little bit more descriptive. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/10 "2017-10-24T22:34:23Z")
As a kid, I watched Benson constantly. He and the actress who played Gretchen Krauss had amazing chemistry. RIP Robert ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/11 "2017-10-24T22:43:23Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > If you don’t mind. No, that’s okay. You can get it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/12 "2017-10-24T22:44:24Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I’ve edited the title so it’s a little bit more descriptive. Thanks. I had a more descriptive title but it didn’t fit. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/13 "2017-10-24T22:49:21Z")
Oh damn. I loved him on _Sports Night._ Remember when they included Guillaume’s real-life stroke into the plot? Dang, I loved that actor. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/14 "2017-10-24T23:18:27Z")
_Benson_ will be returning to the Antenna TV lineup in December. As well as _Soap_. This was announced before Guillaume’s death. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/15 "2017-10-25T00:01:34Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Oh damn. I loved him on _Sports Night._ Remember when they included Guillaume’s real-life stroke into the plot? Dang, I loved that actor. This is essentially what I came to say. I knew he was in Soap, and was Benson, but he will always be Isaac Jaffe to me ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/16 "2017-10-25T00:08:44Z")
Growing up, my “Must-See TV” on Fridays was Benson & Webster. Then I rediscovered Benson when Comedy Central did a Soap marathon in the early 90s. Loved his work. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/17 "2017-10-25T00:48:55Z")
Damn. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/18 "2017-10-25T03:32:23Z")
Will Jessica discover Chester’s affair? Will Benson discover Chester’s affair? Will Benson care? And what about Chuck and Bob? These questions—and many others—will be answered in the next episode of…Dope. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/19 "2017-10-25T04:05:58Z")
In the exceedingly excellent cast that made up _Soap_, Robert Guillaume stood out as being top notch at his job. His success when he left that show in his spin-off, _Benson_, showed he was indeed a very good comedy actor. Thinking about that takes me way back. And, as I recall, he did quite well as Fredrick Douglass in the mini-series _North and South_. RIP, kind sir! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758/20 "2017-10-25T04:32:08Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > … > And, as I recall, he did quite well as Fredrick Douglass in the mini-series _North and South_. > > RIP, kind sir! It’s a very sad irony that Guillaume has died, and Fredrick Douglass is still alive. Sorry. Couldn’t resist\*. Slinks out of the room\*. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-benson-to-the-list-rip-robert-guillaume/799758.md?page=2)