Robert Goulet was born on this day in 1933. He was one of those entertainers who seemed to do everything. He was cast as Sir Lancelot in the 1960 production of Camelot, which costarred Richard Burton and Julie Andrews. It was in that role that he sang If Ever I Would Leave You, which became his signature song. (In 1993, he would star in the revival of Camelot as King Arthur.)
In 1962, he began a recording career on Columbia Records. In his lifetime, he would record over 60 best selling albums!
Not everyone was a fan of Goulet. In 1974, he appeared on the Mike Douglas Show. Elvis Presley was watching that show from his suite at the Las Vegas International Hotel. He was so annoyed and irritated by Goulet’s performance that he shot the television set!!
He had his share of television roles, too. In 1966, he starred in Blue Light, as a journalist. He also starred in the Emmy winning show, Brigadoon. He has memorable guest starring roles on The Lucy Show, Alice, Mission: Impossible, Love Boat and Fantasy Island.
His movie roles include 1980’s Atlantic City, Beetlejuice, Scrooged, and the first sequel in the Naked Gun series. Goulet played a fantastic villain in Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear named Quentin Hapsburg.
Because it is Robert Goulet, I have to share how he “ends up” in that movie. It is one of my favorite scenes…
I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the Toy Story movies. My kids loved them. In Toy Story 2, Robert Goulet did not have a character with speaking lines in the film. However, he did provide the singing voice for Wheezy, the Penguin.
You’ve Got a Friend In Me will forever be connected with the Toy Story films. Personally, the Randy Newman version is just “ok.” The version that I absolutely love is the “Wheezy Version” that plays at the finale of Toy Story 2! Goulet’s swingin’ take on the song is just plain fun! The swinging arrangement is something that could have easily been a Sinatra chart!
Happy Birthday to Robert Goulet!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 