Dick Gautier

Born in California in 1931, Dick Gautier only pursued a career as a comedian and actor after a tour with the U.S. Navy. When he returned from duty, he made a go at stand-up comedy, landing a regular gig at a nightclub in New York City.

He was in the right place at the right time as he was discovered by the casting team for the Broadway show Bye Bye Birdie. They eyed the good-looking Gautier for the role of the titular Elvis-esque character Conrad Birdie, and while he was reticent, he auditioned and was cast in the role.

After notching a Tony award nomination for the role, Gautier used that experience as a launching pad for a stable career in film and television. In the early '60s, he appeared in the movies "Ensign Pulver" (1964) and "Divorce American Style" (1967).

Gautier also landed a recurring role on "Get Smart" (NBC/CBS 1965-1970) as the robot Hymie. He wasn't in many episodes, but the character became a favorite amongst series fans. His experience on the show lead to other roles, such as a starring role on the short-lived "Mr. Terrific" (CBS 1967) and the equally short-lived Mel Brooks show "When Things Were Rotten" (ABC 1975) where he played a satirical version of Robin Hood.

Gautier regularly appeared in TV and movies over the next few decades, usually in comedic roles. A lover of cartooning, Gautier made his own celebrity caricatures and even contributed voice talent to animated shows such as "Transformers" (Syndicated 1984-87) and "The New Yogi Bear Show" (Syndicated 1988). As he grew older, voiceover roles were most of what Gautier performed, though he did make a guest appearance on "Nip/Tuck" (FX 2003-2010) in the show's final season.

Dick Gautier died on January 13, 2017 at the age of 85 after a long illness.