Robert Guillaume dies: Star of Soap, Benson and Sports Night was 89

USA Today

Guillaume had been battling prostate cancer, according to his wife Donna Brown Guillaume. Guillaume first gained national fame playing the acerbic butler on the soap opera parody Soap in 1977. Two years later, ABC spun off Guillaume's role with the comedy Benson, which lasted seven seasons from 1979 to 1986. He won two Emmys playing Benson, one for Soap for best supporting actor in 1979 and one for Benson as best lead actor in 1985. Guillaume went on to star in Sports Night, where he suffered a minor stroke in 1999 while on set. The stroke had a slight effect on his speech and was written into the show. “Robert Guillaume radiated such warmth, light, dignity, and above all, class,” tweeted Sports Night co-star Josh Charles. “That smile and laugh touched us all. RIP to the best boss ever. "It was a thrill to work w him on SN," added Joshua Malina. ALSO: Watch the first episode of Benson.