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Robert Goulet Starred On Stage And Screen

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Los Angeles Times

Published: October 31, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Robert Goulet, 73, the handsome singer with the rich baritone who soared to stardom on the Broadway stage in 1960 playing Lancelot in the original production of 'Camelot,' died Tuesday while awaiting a lung transplant. He had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

The American-born Goulet, who moved to Canada as a teenager, was a popular singer on Canadian television when he auditioned for the role of the brave, young knight in Lerner and Loewe's 'Camelot,' opposite Julie Andrews' Guinevere and Richard Burton's Arthur.

Upon hearing Goulet sing 'If Ever I Would Leave You' during the first day of rehearsals for 'Camelot,' Burton called it 'the voice of an angel.'

Goulet, who won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1962, went on to win a Tony Award as best actor in a musical for his portrayal of Jacques Bonnard in Kander and Ebb's 'The Happy Time' in 1968.

During his 1960s and early '70s heyday, Goulet turned out a string of hit record albums, appeared frequently on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and other popular TV variety shows, and starred in his own TV specials, as well as TV productions of 'Brigadoon,' 'Carousel' and 'Kiss Me, Kate.'

Goulet also sang at the White House for Presidents Johnson and Nixon and headlined in Las Vegas.

Goulet returned to the Broadway stage a number of times, including playing Arthur in a brief 1993 revival of 'Camelot ' and taking over the lead in a revival of the musical comedy 'La Cage aux Folles' in 2005.

He also performed frequently in regional theaters and touring companies in 'Man of La Mancha,' 'South Pacific,' 'On a Clear Day You Can See Forever' and other shows.

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