Robert Goulet

Robert Goulet (born Robert Gérard Goulet on November 26, 1933) was a Canadian‑American baritone whose resonant voice and charismatic stage presence made him one of the most recognizable entertainers of the twentieth century. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he spent his early childhood in a French‑Canadian immigrant family before moving to Alberta at age thirteen, where his vocal talents were honed at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. His breakthrough came in 1960 when Lerner and Loewe cast him as Sir Lancelot in the Broadway hit Camelot, where his rendering of "If Ever I Would Leave You" became an enduring signature song that captivated audiences and even attracted the admiration of President John F. Kennedy. Over the next six decades his career spanned Broadway, television, film, and more than sixty recordings, earning him a Grammy, a Tony Award for "The Happy Time" (1968), and numerous Emmy nominations for televised musical productions such as Brigadoon (1966).

Beyond the stage, Goulet’s flamboyant personality made him a popular guest on variety shows, a frequent voice‑over artist, and a beloved figure in advertising, from ESPN basketball promos to Mercedes‑Benz commercials. He married three times—first to Louise Longmore, then to actress Carol Lawrence (with whom he had two sons, Christopher and Michael), and finally to artist Vera Novak—and was a father to three children, including the late Nicolette. In his later years he embraced his Canadian heritage, obtaining citizenship in 2007, the same year he received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Goulet’s final public appearance came on PBS’s "My Music: 50’s Pop Parade" in August 2007, shortly before his death from pulmonary fibrosis on October 30, 2007. His legacy endures in the countless recordings, theatrical revivals, and pop‑culture homages that continue to celebrate his unmistakable baritone and charismatic charm.