The Remarkable Career of Richard Gilbert Gautier: From Broadway to Animation Icon

Hello everybody. Today I’m taking a look at actor Richard Gilbert Gautier. Born in 1931 in Culver City, CA, Gautier grew up in the industry as his father was a movie camera grip and his mother was a costume seamstress. Gautier’s first gig was as a singer and shortly after he would join the US Navy. After his time in the Navy Gautier worked his way up to being Conrad Birdie in the original Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie. Gautier also had rolls in popular Sixties shows such as Gidget, bewitched, and was Hymie the robot on Get Smart. He wasn’t in any kind of costume so he played a robot that looked like a human. It was an interesting part to play and I think he pulled it off pretty well.

In the Seventies Gautier had parts in shows like Happy Days, Charlie’s Angels, and was Robin Hood in When Things Were Rotten. Gautier filled in for Adam West as Batman during a public service announcement promoting equal pay for female workers. In the Eighties Gautier did voice rolls in shows like Smurfs, Transformers where he voiced Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime, and one of his greatest voice rolls ever as Serpentor in GI Joe the animated series and in the movie. After a short stint in the Nineties in Tom & Jerry Kids, Batman, and Garfield & Friends, Gautier retired and enjoyed life up to his death in 2017. 1986 was one of my favorite years as a kid. One of my favorite GI Joe series is Arise Serpentor Arise. Voices like Gautier and SGT Slaughter brought the show to life and it’s still one of my favorites today. Gautier had a successful career and his name will forever be remembered in his great work over the years. Have a great week everyone.