Actor Dick Gautier, who earned a Tony nomination for creating the role of Conrad Birdie in the 1960 Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie, died January 13 at age 85, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The son of an MGM cameraman, Gautier established himself as a nightclub performer prior to his Broadway bow in Bye Bye Birdie. The musical marked Gautier’s sole Broadway appearance. He was Tony-nominated for his performance as the rock ‘n’ roll heartthrob inspired by Elvis Presley.
On screen, Gautier was best known for playing Hymie the robot in the popular television series Get Smart. A role he repeated in the 1989 made for television movie Get Smart, Again!
Gautier was also an accomplished voiceover actor, whose work included the animated series Transformers, G.I. Joe, Duck Tales, and Cow and Chicken.
Gautier was born October 30, 1937, in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Tess Hightower, and his three children.
