- Richard Gautier
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Richard "Dick" Gautier Born Richard Gauthier
October 30, 1931
Los Angeles, California, U.S.Occupation Actor Years active 1959–present Spouse Barbara Stuart
(m. 1967, divorced)Website http://www.dickgautier.com/ Richard "Dick" Gautier (born October 30, 1931) is an actor, comedian, composer, singer and author. Among his most well-known television roles are for Hymie the Robot in the television series Get Smart,[1] and Robin Hood in the short-lived TV comedy series When Things Were Rotten, a Mel Brooks send-up of the classic legend.[2]
Contents
Career
Early career
Gautier started his career as a night-club comic and a singer for dance orchestras; he joined ASCAP in 1959 after serving in the United States Navy. In 1960, he portrayed fictional rock 'n roll star Conrad Birdie in the original Broadway theatre production of Bye Bye Birdie, receiving a Tony Award nomination for his performance.[citation needed] He also portrayed the clumsy robot "Hymie" on TV's Get Smart.
As a game show panelist
During the 1970s and 1980s, Gautier was a frequent game show panelist, appearing on Match Game, Tattletales, Showoffs, You Don't Say!, Liar's Club, Password Plus, Body Language, Super Password, Win, Lose or Draw, and the TV version of Can You Top This?.[citation needed] He also briefly tried his hand at emceeing on the early 1970s celebrity couples game It's Your Bet.[citation needed]
Batman
In 1972, when Burt Ward and Yvonne Craig reprised their Batman roles (as Robin and Batgirl respectively) for a TV public service announcement about equal pay for women, Adam West (who was trying to distance himself from the Batman role at the time) was absent. Instead, Gautier filled-in for West as Batman.[citation needed]
Voice-over roles
Gautier has performed several voice-over roles in animation, including Rodimus Prime in the third season of the Transformers animated series from 1986–1987 (taking over for Judd Nelson, who previously performed the role in the 1986 Transformers movie), as well as Serpentor in the G.I. Joe series. He was also narrator for Discovery Channel's Search for Adventure.[citation needed]
Caricatures of celebrities
He is known for his caricatures of celebrities, and has written several instructional books on caricature, drawing, and cartooning, including Drawing and Cartooning 1001 Caricatures, Drawing and Cartooning 1001 Figures in Action and Creating Comic Characters.
Personal life
Gautier has three children from his first marriage. He was divorced from his second wife, actress Barbara Stuart, and is currently married to psychologist Dr. Tess Hightower.
References
- ^ "Get Smart (1965) - Full cast and crew". IMDb.com, Inc.. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058805/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
- ^ "When Things Were Rotten (1975)". IMDb.com, Inc.. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072585. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
External links
- Official website
- Richard Gautier at the Internet Movie Database
- Richard Gautier at the Internet Broadway Database
- Interview at The Transformers.net
Preceded by
Adam WestActors to portray Batman
1972Succeeded by
Adam WestPreceded by
Judd NelsonVoice of Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
1986-1988Succeeded by
Paul DobsonCategories:- American television actors
- American voice actors
- American male singers
- American musical theatre actors
- American comedians
- Actors from Los Angeles, California
- United States Navy sailors
- American people of French-Canadian descent
- 1931 births
- Living people
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