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Robert Merrill, one of the Metropolitan Opera's most celebrated and enduring baritones, was born Moishe Miller on June 4, 1917 (though some sources cite 1919) in Brooklyn to Polish immigrant parents. His father, Abraham, worked as a shoe salesman, while his mother, Lillian, was an operatic soprano who performed in concerts before marriage. Upon arriving in the United States, his family changed their surname to Miller.
Encouraged and guided by his mother during his early operatic training, Robert initially pursued a promising career as a semiprofessional pitcher, which eventually faded. As a child, he struggled with being overweight and unhappy, compounded by a stutter that disappeared only when he sang. His first audition for the Metropolitan Opera in 1941 was unsuccessful, and he supported himself by singing at bar mitzvahs and weddings.
Robert made his operatic debut in 1944 as Amonasro in "Aida" in Trenton, New Jersey, and joined the Met the following year, making his company debut in December as Germont in "La Traviata." Known for his vigorous yet smooth and effortless baritone, his key roles included the title character in "Rigoletto," Figaro in "The Barber of Seville," Tonio in "Pagliacci," and Escamillo in "Carmen." He was regarded as one of the finest Verdi baritones of his era.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Robert embraced opportunities in radio, film, nightclubs, and television, even performing in Las Vegas. He was a featured soloist on the RCA Victor Show in 1946 and temporarily left the Met to co-star in films, causing a rift with the Met's general manager, Rudolf Bing. He appeared harmlessly in the comedy western "Senorita from the West" (1945) alongside Allan Jones. However, his role as an on-the-run crook in "Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick" (1952), with Dinah Shore and Alan Young, was a critical failure. After public apologies, he quickly returned to the Met. On television, he guest-starred on programs such as "Your Show of Shows," "The Jackie Gleason Show," "The Milton Berle Show," "The Red Skelton Show," and "Sonny and Cher." He also appeared in televised operas like "Don Carlo" (1950) and "Carmen" (1952), along with various talk and game shows.
Robert's first marriage to the Met's leading soprano Roberta Peters lasted only three months, though they remained friends and occasionally performed together. Both were frequent guests on "The Ed Sullivan Show" throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He had two children with his second wife, pianist Marion Machno. Robert continued singing at the Met until 1976 and performed occasionally as a recitalist afterward. He passed away from natural causes in 2004 at the age of 87.
