News > Robert Goulet dies at 73

Written by John Lichman

Robert Goulet, 73, died last night in a Los Angeles hospital while awaiting a lung transplant.

The crooner/actor was known for his lounge-style of singing that held a sense of pop-kitsch through the sixties, seventies, eighties and even now. His biggest star turn came as Lancelot in the Broadway performance of Camelot in 1960.  He was born Nov. 26, 1933 in Massachusetts, moving to Edmonton, Alberta when a teenager.

He became involved with the stage at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto via scholarship. He would star in a number of small productions, becoming "Canada's first matinée idol" much to his dislike. Gould then joined the cast of Camelot, which would run until January 1963. Goulet would act in a series of roles over the years, from the sleazy lounge singer in Atlantic City to Toy Story 2. Recently, he was featured in commercials for Emerald Nuts as a sort of office gremlin frightened by the food. 

Goulet would release 24 albums and not be above parodying the "idol" aspects associated with his performances. 

Gould is survived by his third wife Vera Novak, a daughter from his second; two sons and two grandchildren from his first marriage.

edit: Goulet was 73, as our commenter says. My mistake.