Robert Goulet: singer and stage actor known for Camelot and popular recordings
Robert Goulet (1933–2007) was an American-born singer and actor who rose to fame on Broadway, recorded popular albums and appeared in film and television. He was noted for his rich baritone and stage presence.
Overview
Robert Gerard Goulet was a prominent singer and performer whose career spanned Broadway, popular recordings, film and television. Celebrated for a warm, resonant baritone and an elegant stage manner, he became widely known after his breakthrough on Broadway and remained a familiar presence on concert stages and TV variety programs for decades. His career earned him both recording and theatre industry recognition.
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Early life and training
Born in 1933 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Goulet moved to Canada as a child and received much of his musical training there. He attended Victoria Composite High School and studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music, where he developed the vocal technique and repertoire that would support his stage and recording work. This North American upbringing placed him between two cultural traditions and occasional discussions of his nationality followed him through his life; some reports described him colloquially as a "lost Canadian" in reference to the complexities of his early citizenship status.
Stage career and signature roles
Goulet's public profile rose dramatically when he appeared on Broadway. He earned widespread acclaim for playing Lancelot in a major production of Camelot, and his performance of the romantic ballad "If Ever I Would Leave You" became a signature that introduced him to a mass audience. His stage work combined acting and a cultivated singing style that translated well to both intimate concerts and large theatrical venues. For his contributions to musical theatre and recording he received major industry awards, including a Tony and a Grammy, recognizing both his theatrical and musical accomplishments.
Film, television and recordings
Beyond the stage, Goulet pursued film and television roles and made numerous recordings. He appeared in popular films such as Beetlejuice and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, and he was a frequent guest on television variety shows and special programs. His recorded output ranged from Broadway standards to popular ballads and albums intended for both concert and commercial audiences. Many listeners remember him for the clarity of his diction and the warmth of his tone.
Personal life and legacy
Goulet was married three times: to Louise Longmore, then to actress Carol Lawrence, and later to Vera Novak. He continued to perform in concerts, cabaret engagements and special appearances into his later years, maintaining a presence that bridged classic musical theatre and mid-20th-century popular entertainment. Critics and fans often cite his distinctive voice and theatrical elegance when describing his contribution to American musical life.
Death and remembrance
Robert Goulet died on October 30, 2007, in Los Angeles of respiratory failure related to pulmonary fibrosis. After his passing, retrospectives and recordings have kept his performances available to new listeners. For further reading on his career and recordings, see resources on his roles, awards and discography linked below.
Live
Robert Goulet grew up in Edmonton, Canada. His talent was recognized at an early age, and he was awarded a scholarship to a music conservatory in Toronto, where he studied acting and singing. After first appearances on Canadian television in the early 1950s, he went to New York City. There he had his breakthrough in 1960 when he landed the lead role in the Broadway musical Camelot, for which he won the Theatre World Award a year later.
1962 also marked the beginning of his career as a popular music singer, when he signed a recording contract with Columbia and had a hit single with What Kind of Fool Am I? By the late 1970s, he was successful primarily as an album artist and had three top ten albums with Sincerely Yours ..., This Christmas I Spend With You (both 1963) and My Love, Forgive Me (1965). From the latter album, which went gold, the title track was also his biggest single hit, reaching number 19.
In 1968, he won a Tony Award for "Best Featured Actor in a Musical" for his portrayal of Jacques Bonnard in Gower Champion's Broadway musical The Happy Time. Engagements for television shows and some cinema productions followed, as well as over 15 long-playing records. After a long break from films, director Tim Burton hired him for his 1988 film Beetlejuice. In The Naked Gun 2½ (1991), Goulet starred as the villain Quentin Hapsburg. As early as 1982, he was featured in the opening credits of an episode of The Naked Gun, in which he was immediately shot as a running gag. Later he appeared mainly in Las Vegas, where he also lived.
Goulet was parodied as a cartoon character in the television series The Simpsons. In one episode, he is supposed to appear in a luxurious casino, but is directed by underage Bart Simpson to his tree house, where he has set up a casino for children. In 2006, Goulet played himself in the episode Rapunzel's Wig (Sold-Y Locks, season 8, episode 18) of the US sitcom King of Queens alongside Kevin James and Leah Remini. He also made several cameo appearances in the series A Trio to Bite.
Private
Robert Goulet was married three times. In the first marriage from 1956 to 1963 with Louise Longmore; from this marriage comes the actress Nicolette Goulet. Two more children were born from the second marriage (1963-1981) with his fellow actress Carol Lawrence, and from 1982 on Vera Novak was his wife.
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AlegsaOnline.com Robert Goulet: singer and stage actor known for Camelot and popular recordings Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/83321
Sources
- filmreference.com : "Robert Goulet Biography (1933-2007)"
- foxnews.com : "Singer Robert Goulet Dies at 73"