Robert Goulet, star of La Cage Aux Folles, Camelot, dies at age 73
by
Ross von Metzke
Robert Goulet, the Broadway singer and actor most famous for dreaming “The Impossible Dream” and making Lancelot a staple of musical theatre, has passed away while awaiting a lung transplant, the Associated Press has confirmed. He was 73.
Goulet, who starred in such theatre staples as Man of La Mancha and Camelot, was most recently on Broadway in 2005’s remount of the gay cult classic La Cage aux Folles. He made headlines when he allegedly took issue with the production’s gay kiss, prompting gay bloggers to take issue with the actor.
Goulet moved forward in the role of gay nightclub owner Georges, a role Robin Williams made famous in The Birdcage, based on Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman's original broadway production.
Goulet rose to fame in the 1960 Broadway production of Camelot. A recording career and film work followed, but Goulet was always best remembered for his role as Lancelot. Goulet returned to the show in the 1993 Broadway revival, this time playing Arthur.
Goulet had been hospitalized and listed in critical condition at Cedars Siani Medical Center last week. The actor had been listed in critical condition and E! Online reported he was awaiting a lung transplant.
Later reported confirmed Goulet was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, described by doctors to be "a rare but rapidly progressive and potentially fatal condition".
