Robert Goulet  

Robert Goulet is the entertaining equivalent of the Renaissance Man. He has worked in film, radio, television, and stage, and he is known for both singing and acting.

Robert Gerard Goulet was born November 26, 1933 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. His parents, Joseph Georges Andre Goulet and Jeanette Gauthier, were both of French Canadian extraction. Goulet’s performing began as early as five when his relatives painted his face with cork and urged him to imitate Al Jolson. The experience left him traumatized and riddled with performance anxiety.

Overcoming his stage fright, Goulet attended Herbert G Turner and Jean Letourneau’s voice school. With this voice training, he was eventually able to secure work as a radio announcer. When he graduated high school, he pursued his secondary education at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

His onscreen debut came in 1954 with Howdy Doody opposite William Shatner. From there, he went on to co-host The Leslie Bell Singers from 1955 to 1959.

As this job wrapped up, Goulet received the break that made him a star. Cast as Lancelot in the stage version of Camelot, Goulet acted beside Richard Burton and Julie Andrews. Although he was a newcomer to the stage, he was an instant hit. Most notable, his number “If Ever I Would Leave You” brought the house down every night.

When the show concluded, he made appearances on everything from The Danny Thomas Show to The Ed Sullivan Show. With this increased visibility, Goulet was becoming a recognizable face.

His music career emerged concurrently with his acting career. He was signed to Columbia Records in 1962, releasing over fifteen albums under that label.

One of his first major film hits was Brigadoon with Peter Falk in 1966. He also found success opposite Jessica Walter and then-wife Carol Lawrence in Kiss Me Kate.

Although he continued to work, it wouldn’t be until 1980’s Atlantic City with Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, and Robert Joy that Goulet would receive any substantial, positive critical attention.

After a hiatus from film, he reappeared in Tim Burton’s Beetle Juice with stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catharine O Hara. Others may recognize him for his role in Bill Murray’s Scrooged.

Although he continues to dabble in television and film, he currently focuses most of his energy on live performances in Las Vegas.

Goulet’s emergence into pop culture was aided by repeated impressions from Saturday Night Live funny man Will Ferrell. In return for his many years in entertainment, Goulet received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2006.

On October 25, 2007, Goulet fell ill and was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he was labeled in critical condition. He currently awaits a lung transport.

In his personal life, Goulet has been married three times. His first wife was Louise Longmore. They married in 1956 and had one child before divorcing in 1963. His second wife was actress Carol Lawrence. They had two children together and were married from 1963 to 1981. His third wife is Vera Novak. They married in 1982 and are still together.

They currently split their time between Las Vegas and their yacht in Los Angeles.