LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 27: Actor Robert Guillaume arrives at the premiere of Walt Disney Studios' "The Lion King 3D" at the El Capitan Theater on August 27, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Robert Guillaume, who gained fame as butler turned politician on TV, has died at the age of 89.
The actor died due to complications of prostate cancer.
Guillaume began playing Benson Du Bois on “Soap” and its spin-off “Benson” on which he worked in the Governor’s mansion, working his way up from a butler to budget director to Lt. Governor over seven seasons. He won Emmys for both “Soap” and ”Benson”.
Robert Guillaume was also the voice of Rafiki, the mandrill (monkey) in The Lion King.