The voice of the wise mandrill Rafiki, Robert Guillaume, sadly died yesterday at the age of 89 after battling prostate cancer.
Fans and celebs alike expressed their grief on Twitter at his passing.
Former Soap co-star Billy Crystal offered his condolences: "Sad to hear of the passing of Robert Guillaume. He was a great support to me on Soap. Great timing, charisma and class. Rest in Peace."
“Class, Grace and Talent Personified!! RIP Robert Guillaume,” tweeted Samuel L. Jackson.
“Thank you for sharing your light and genius with the world, Robert Guillaume - you will be missed. #RIP,” added Felicity Huffman.
Y'all gotta understand something about Robert Guillaume...for folks my age that's one of the first strong, black characters we saw on TV
— Rob Woodfork (@RobWoodfork) 24 October 2017
Awww so sad to hear that #RobertGuillaume passed away yesterday aged 89! We you #Benson! RIP pic.twitter.com/wnNuCyNIKQ
— Siobhán McHatton (@Alltheway80s) 25 October 2017
Robert Guillaume was the narrator for “Happily Ever After, Tales For Every Child” my childhood is sobbing right now!! . pic.twitter.com/yy2sstgZ7j
— Concrete Cowboy (@BlvckJvk) 25 October 2017
RIP to EmmyAward winning Army vet, star of stage & screen, Robert Guillaume. 1st black actor to play the title role in Phantom of the Opera pic.twitter.com/WA2aezsfQz
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) 24 October 2017
Goodbye to the legend #RobertGuillaume - RIP pic.twitter.com/csEPjX0ODW
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) 24 October 2017
Sad to hear of the passing of Robert Guillaume. He was a great support to me on "Soap".
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) 24 October 2017
Great timing, charisma and class. Rest in Peace.
Thank you for sharing your light and genius with the world, Robert Guillaume - you will be missed. #RIP pic.twitter.com/NyZKYv4pCm
— Felicity Huffman (@FelicityHuffman) 24 October 2017
Class, Grace & Talent Personified!! RIP Robert Guillaume
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) 25 October 2017
Robert grew up in poor conditions in St. Louis, Missouri, often mistreated by his alcoholic mother and his classmates at school because of the colour of his skin. A music professor at Washington University in St. Louis helped to hone Robert's excellent singing voice, and from there the rest was history.
Besides The Lion King, the Emmy-award winning actor was also known for his starring role on sitcom Benson, about the quick-witted butler he had also played on Soap.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Brown Guillaume, and three children.
