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Robby Benson (born Robin David Segal; January 21, 1956<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) is an American actor, director, and musician. He rose to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1970s, appearing in the films Ode to Billy Joe (1976), One on One (1977) and Ice Castles (1978). He subsequently garnered more fame for voicing the Beast in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991) and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. He has also worked as a television director, including six episodes of the sitcom Friends. He recently appeared in a recurring role as Dr. Mauer in Apple TV+'s Severance.

In addition to acting and directing, Benson is an activist in the field of heart research, having undergone four open-heart surgeries since age 28 to correct congenital aortic valve defects and related damage. In 2012, he published a memoir recounting his medical journey and numerous surgeries.

Early lifeEdit

Benson was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann (née Benson), a singer, actor, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer.<ref name="reilly">Template:Cite magazine</ref> His family is Jewish.<ref name="Benson2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="latimes" /> When Benson was five years old, his family relocated to New York City, where he was raised.<ref name="reilly" /> He subsequently took his mother's name as his stage name when he was 10.<ref name="latimes">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nytimes">Template:Cite news</ref> Benson attended the Lincoln Square Academy in Manhattan, where he graduated at age fourteen as the class valedictorian.<ref name="reilly" />

CareerEdit

Benson made his film debut with an uncredited role in Wait Until Dark (1967) as the Boy Tossing Ball and his Broadway debut in the play Zelda followed by the musical The Rothschilds (1970).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Benson had an early role on the daytime soap Search for Tomorrow (1971–1972). As a film actor, Benson was well known for teenage roles in coming of age films, such as 1972's Jory, 1973's Jeremy, and as Billy Joe McAllister in 1976's Ode to Billy Joe.<ref name="TVGuide">Template:Cite magazine</ref> He had an appearance in a 1973 commercial for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups alongside Donny Most who would later co-star in Happy Days.

In 1975, Benson appeared in Death Be Not Proud and Lucky Lady.<ref name="TVGuide" /> That year, he also screen tested for the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, a role which eventually went to Mark Hamill. In 1977, Benson starred in One on One<ref name="TVGuide" /> which he co-wrote with his father Jerry Segal, and the TV movie The Death of Richie. In 1978, he co-starred in The End and Ice Castles.<ref name="TVGuide" /> Benson, who had never ice skated before, learned to skate in order to film the movie, which had numerous skating scenes, including ice hockey.<ref name="Benson">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1980, Benson starred in Die Laughing and Tribute.<ref name="variety">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1981, he costarred in The Chosen, based on the book of the same name by Chaim Potok.<ref name="TVGuide" /><ref name="Benson" /> The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, but noted that Benson's character Danny Saunders was "full of a gentle inquisitiveness that cannot help but win the audience's sympathy."<ref name="The Chosen">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Benson played Olympic 10,000-meter gold medalist Billy Mills in the 1983 film Running Brave. From the filming of this movie Benson implemented his training for the 1983 New York City Marathon, completing the race in 3:05:15.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1991, he starred as the voice of Beast in the animated Disney film Beauty and the Beast, directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, and starring alongside Paige O'Hara as Belle. Later in the 1990s he voiced lead character J.T. Marsh on the sci-fi cartoon series Exosquad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

His 2007 novel Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood landed Benson on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list.<ref name="stole">Template:Cite book</ref> Benson's medical memoir I'm Not Dead ... Yet! was released in June 2012.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> Outside of acting, Benson is also a musician and composer.<ref name="Robby Benson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has composed songs in several films and has also won an RIAA Gold Records Award for writing the song "We Are Not Alone" performed by Karla DeVito on the soundtrack of the 1985 John Hughes film The Breakfast Club.<ref name="Robby Benson" />

Benson has been a professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, the University of Utah, the University of South Carolina and Indiana University.<ref name="Benson1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

Benson has been married to singer and actress Karla DeVito since July 11, 1982. The pair met while starring together in The Pirates of Penzance.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Together they have two children, daughter Lyric (b. 1983) and son Zephyr (b. 1992).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He practices Transcendental Meditation.<ref name="Benson" />

Health problems and activismEdit

While a teenager, Benson was diagnosed with a heart murmur caused by a bicuspid aortic valve defect.<ref name="heart">Template:Cite news</ref> He began experiencing symptoms such as dizziness and losing consciousness in his late twenties, and subsequently underwent open-heart surgery in October 1984 to repair the valve defect.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He received a bovine valve transplant, which lasted fifteen years.<ref name="doctors" /> After the bovine valve failed, Benson had a second surgery in 2000,<ref name="pr">Template:Cite news</ref> during which he underwent the Ross procedure. For six years after his second surgery, Benson had consistent struggles breathing.<ref name="doctors">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He subsequently underwent a third open-heart surgery, during which it was discovered that his breathing problems were caused by the previous procedure causing his aortic valve to buckle and close.<ref name="doctors" /> In 2010, Benson received a delicate fourth surgery known as the "reverse Ross procedure" to correct damage to his heart.<ref name="edge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Benson is an activist and fundraiser for heart research, which, in 2004, led him to write the book, lyrics and music for an original Off-Broadway play called Open Heart, in which he also starred.<ref name="Words Can Never Harm Him">Template:Cite news</ref> Benson also has spoken about his dealing with post-surgical cardiac depression, commenting after his fourth surgery: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

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FilmographyEdit

FilmEdit

List of Robby Benson film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1967 Wait Until Dark Boy Tossing Ball Uncredited
1973 Jory Jory Walden
Jeremy Jeremy Jones
1975 Lucky Lady Billy Weber
1976 Ode to Billy Joe Billy Joe McAllister
1977 One on One Henry Steele
1978 The End Father Dave Benson
Ice Castles Nick Peterson
1979 Walk Proud Emilio Mendez
1980 Die Laughing Pinsky
1980 Tribute Jud Templeton
1981 The Chosen Danny Saunders
1982 Movie Madness Brent Falcone
1983 Running Brave Billy Mills
1984 Harry & Son Howard Keach
1985 City Limits Carver
1987 Rent-a-Cop Andrew Pitts
1989 White Hot Scott Also director
1990 Modern Love Greg Also writer, director and producer
1991 Beauty and the Beast The Beast/Prince (voice)<ref name="btva">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>

1992 Invasion of Privacy Alex Pruitt
1993 Deadly Exposure Max Pierce
1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas<ref name="btva" /> The Beast/Prince (voice) Direct-to-video
1998 Belle's Magical World
1999 Belle's Tales of Friendship
2000 Dragonheart: A New Beginning Drake (voice)<ref name="btva" />
The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus Young Santa Claus (voice)<ref name="btva" />
2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse The Beast/Prince (voice) Direct-to-video
2002 Just a Dream Dr. Sturbuck
2004 MXP: Most Xtreme Primate Edward
2011 Brave New World Damon Heller
2019 Apple Seed Sirom
2023 Once Upon a Studio The Beast/Prince (voice)<ref name="btva" /> Short film

TelevisionEdit

List of Robby Benson television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1971–1972 Search for Tomorrow Bruce Carson 2 episodes
1974 Remember When Frankie Hodges Television film
All the Kind Strangers John
Virginia Hill Leroy Small
1975 Death Be Not Proud Johnny Gunther
1976 One Day at a Time Ken Anderson Episode: "The College Man"
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln Tad Lincoln Television film
1977 The Death of Richie Richie Werner
Our Town George Gibbs
1982 Two of a Kind Noel 'Nolie' Minor Template:Ubl
1985 California Girls Nathan Bowzer Television film
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ed Episode: "Method Actor"
The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible David (voice) Episode: "David and Goliath"<ref name="btva" />
1986 Tough Cookies Det. Cliff Brady 6 episodes
David and Goliath David (voice) Video short
1989 For Jenny with Love Bud TV series
1990 The Hitchhiker Bart Allen Episode: "Tourist Trap"
1991–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Prince Valiant (voice) 65 episodes<ref name="btva" />
1991 Evening Shade Skeeter Hatfield Episode: "Winning Isn't Everything"
1992 P.J. Sparkles Blaze (voice) Television film<ref name="btva" />
Batman: The Animated Series Wilkes (voice) Episode: "P.O.V."<ref name="btva" />
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa Additional voices 3 episodes
Homewrecker David Whitson Television film
Lincoln William Stoddard (voice)
1993 Road to Avonlea Jonathan Ravenhurst Blackwell Episode: "The Disappearance"
At Home with the Webbers Roger Swade Television film
Precious Victims Robert Sims
1993–1994 Exosquad Lt./Lt. Cmdr J.T. Marsh (voice) 52 episodes
1994 The Magic School Bus Archibald Seedplot (voice) Episode: "Goes to Seed"<ref name="btva" />
1996 O. Henry's Christmas Jim Dillingham Young Television film
1996 Caroline in the City Robby Benson Episode: "Caroline and the Movie"
1996–1997 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Edward Spellman 2 episodes
1997 Seinfeld Vincent (voice) Episode: "The Comeback"
2000 The Christmas Lamb Asah (voice) Animated television film
2001 The Huntress Dana Weatherly Episode: "Who Are You?"
2001–2002 House of Mouse The Beast/Prince Adam (voice) 7 episodes
2002–2003 American Dreams Professor Witt 8 episodes
2019 A Feeling of Home Wes Porter Hallmark Channel Television Film
2025 Severance Dr. Mauer 4 episodes

Video gamesEdit

List of Robby Benson video game credits
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
1992 King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow Prince Alexander (voice)
2000 Disney's Beauty and the Beast Magical Ballroom The Beast/Prince (voice)
2002 Kingdom Hearts
2006 Kingdom Hearts II
2011 Kinect Disneyland Adventures
2022 Cookie Run Kingdom Beast Cookie (voice)
2023 Disney Speedstorm The Beast/Prince (voice)
Disney Dreamlight Valley

TheatreEdit

List of Robby Benson theatre credits
Year Title Role Notes
1969 Zelda David Hartman Broadway
1970 The Rothschilds Young Solomon Rothschild
1981 The Pirates of Penzance Frederic
2004 Open Heart Jimmy Off-Broadway

Production creditsEdit

DirectorEdit

  • White Hot (1989)
  • Modern Love (1990)
  • Family Album (TV Series) – 4 episodes
    • 1.3 "Guardian Angel" (1993)
    • 1.4 "Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall All You Gotta Do Is Call..." (1993)
    • 1.5 "Salon, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye" (1993)
    • 1.6 "Will You Still Feed Me?" (1993)
  • Evening Shade (TV Series) – 8 episodes
    • 3.14 "Private School" (1993)
    • 3.22 "Teaching Is a Good Thing" (1993)
    • 3.24 "The Graduation" (1993)
    • 4.8 "Wood and Evan's Excellent Adventure" (1993)
    • 4.11 "Chain of Fools" (1993)
    • 4.12 "Sleepless in Arkansas" (1993)
    • 4.14 "The People's Choice" (1994)
  • Monty (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 1.3 "The Son Also Rises" (1994)
    • 1.6 "Baby Talk" (1994)
  • Muddling Through (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 1.2 "Let It Be Normal" (1994)
    • 1.5 "Second Time's the Charm" (1994)
  • Good Advice (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 2.3 "Divorce, Egyptian Style" (1994)
    • 2.12 "Lights, Camera, Friction!" (1994)
  • The George Wendt Show (TV Show) – 1 episode
    • 1.2 "A Need for See" (1995)
  • Bringing Up Jack (TV Series) – 1 episode
  • Thunder Alley (TV Series) – 21 episodes
    • 1.2 "The Love Triangle" (1994)
    • 1.4 "Girls' Night Out" (1994)
    • 1.5 "Bloodsuckers" (1994)
    • 1.6 "Happy Endings" (1994)
    • 2.1 "Never Say Die" (1994)
    • 2.2 "Speak No Evil" (1994)
    • 2.3 "Easy Money" (1994)
    • 2.4 "Get a Job" (1994)
    • 2.5 "First Date" (1994)
    • 2.6 "Give 'Em Hell, Bobbi" (1994)
    • 2.7 "Sex, Lies & Popcorn" (1994)
    • 2.8 "The Garage Sale" (1994)
    • 2.9 "Accidentally at First Sight" (1995)
    • 2.10 "Are We There Yet?" (1995)
    • 2.12 "The Trouble with Harry" (1995)
    • 2.13 "Workin' Man's Blues" (1995)
    • 2.14 "A Little Me Time" (1995)
    • 2.15 "I Am Spartacus" (1995)
    • 2.17 "Just a Vacation" (1995)
    • 2.18 "Buzz Off, Buzzard Boy" (1995)
    • 2.19 "No Swing Set" (1995)
  • Dream On (TV Series) – 1 episodes
    • 6.1 "Try Not to Remember" (1995)
  • Ellen (TV Series) – 25 episodes
    • 3.1 "Shake, Rattle and Rumble" (1995)
    • 3.2 "These Successful Friends of Mine" (1995)
    • 3.3 "The Shower Scene" (1995)
    • 3.4 "The Bridges of L.A. County" (1995)
    • 3.5 "Hello, I Must Be Going" (1995)
    • 3.6 "Trick or Treat - Who Cares?" (1995)
    • 3.7 "She Ain't Friendly, She's My Mother" (1995)
    • 3.8 "Salad Days" (1995)
    • 3.9 "The Movie Show" (1995)
    • 3.10 "What's Up, Ex-Doc?" (1995)
    • 3.11 "Ellen's Choice" (1995)
    • 3.12 "Do You Fear What I Fear?" (1995)
    • 3.13 "Horschak's Law" (1996)
    • 3.14 "Morgan, P.I." (1996)
    • 3.15 "Oh, Sweet Rapture" (1996)
    • 3.16 "Witness" (1996)
    • 3.17 "Ellen: With Child" (1996)
    • 3.18 "Lobster Diary" (1996)
    • 3.19 "Two Ring Circus" (1996)
    • 3.20 "A Penney Saved..." (1996)
    • 3.21 "Too Hip for the Room" (1996)
    • 3.22 "Two Mammograms and a Wedding" (1996)
    • 3.23 "Go Girlz" (1996)
    • 3.24 "When the Vow Breaks: Part 1" (1996)
    • 3.26 "When the Vow Breaks: Part 2" (1996)
  • Life with Roger (TV Series) – 1 episode
  • Pearl (TV Series) – 1 episodes
    • 1.2 "Teacher's Pet" (1996)
  • Common Law (TV Series) – 1 episodes
    • 1.1 "Pilot" (1996)
  • Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV Series) – 3 episodes
    • 1.1 "Pilot" (1996)
    • 1.10 "Sweet & Sour Victory (1996)
    • 1.17 "First Kiss" (1997)
  • Friends (TV Series) – 6 episodes
    • 1.22 "The One with the Ick Factor" (1995)
    • 3.12 "The One with All the Jealousy" (1997)
    • 3.13 "The One Where Monica and Richard Are Just Friends" (1997)
    • 3.14 "The One with Phoebe's Ex-Partner" (1997)
    • 3.18 "The One with the Hypnosis Tape" (1997)
    • 3.24 "The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion" (1997)
  • House Rules (TV Series) – 1 episodes
    • 1.7 "Who Knew?" (1998)
  • The Naked Truth (TV Series) – 14 episodes
    • 2.8 "The Scoop" (1997)
    • 2.9 "The Birds" (1997)
    • 3.1 "Things Change" (1997)
    • 3.2 "Her Girl Friday" (1997)
    • 3.3 "Bully for Dave" (1997)
    • 3.4 "Liesl Weapon" (1997)
    • 3.5 "Bridesface Revisited" (1997)
    • 3.7 "Look at Me! Look at Me!" (1997)
    • 3.12 "Women on the Verge of a Rhytidectomy" (1998)
    • 3.13 "8 1/2" (1998)
    • 3.14 "The Neighbor of Bath" (1998)
    • 3.15 "Day of the Locos" (1998)
    • 3.17 "Born to Be Wilde" (1998)
    • 3.16 "Muddy for Nothing" (1998)
  • Reunited (TV Series) – 1 episodes
  • Brother's Keeper (TV Series) – 1 episode
    • 1.12 "The Date" (1999)
  • Jesse (TV Series) – 8 episodes
    • 1.2 "Goober Up the Nose" (1998)
    • 1.3 "Bees Do It, Birds Do It, But Not in a Car" (1998)
    • 1.4 "Live Nude Girls" (1998)
    • 1.5 "Boo! He's Back" (1998)
    • 1.6 "The Methadone Clinic" (1998)
    • 1.7 "The Kiss" (1998)
    • 1.8 "The Cheese Ship" (1998)
    • 1.13 "My Casual Friend's Wedding" (1999)
  • Dharma & Greg (TV Series) – 1 episode
    • 4.7 "Mad Secretaries and Englishmen" (2000)
  • Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 4.10 "Rescue Me" (2000)
    • 4.19 "The Love Boat" (2001)
  • The Huntress (TV Series) – 4 episodes
    • 1.10 "Black Widow" (2001)
    • 1.15 "Generations" (2001)
    • 1.19 "Undercover" (2001)
    • 1.23 "Showdown" (2001)
  • Bob Patterson (TV Series) – 1 episodes
    • 1.5 "Bathroom Bob" (2001)
  • 8 Simple Rules (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 2.2 "Sex Ed" (2003)
    • 2.3 "Donny Goes AWOL" (2003)
  • I'm with Her (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 1.9 "Meet the Parent" (2003)
    • 1.10 "The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told" (2003)
  • Baby Bob (TV Series) – 2 episodes
    • 2.6 "You Don't Know Jack" (2003)
    • 2.5 "Boys Will Be Girls" (2003)
  • Complete Savages (TV Series) – 1 episode
    • 1.5 "Car Jack" (2004)
  • Billy: The Early Years (2008)

ProducerEdit

  • Die Laughing (1980)
  • Modern Love (1990)
  • Caligo (2014)
  • Unwelcome (2014)
  • Calypso (2014)
  • Straight Outta Tompkins (2015)

WriterEdit

ComposerEdit

  • Walk Proud (1979)
  • Unwelcome (2014)
  • Straight Outta Tompkins (2015)

DiscographyEdit

SinglesEdit

  • "Blue Balloon (The Hourglass Song)" (1973)
  • "Hey Everybody" (1974)
  • "A Rock and Roll Song" (1975)
  • "Adios Yesterday" (1979)
  • "All I Want Is Love" (1980)

Awards and nominationsEdit

List of Robby Benson awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result
1974 Golden Globe Most Promising Newcomer – Male Jeremy Template:Nom
1980 Stinker Award Template:Ubl Walk Proud Template:Won
Worst Actor Die Laughing, Tribute Template:Nom
Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or End Credits Die Laughing Template:Won
Worst Fake Accent: Male Template:Won
1983 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Two of a Kind Template:Nom
1985 Razzie Awards Worst Supporting Actor Harry & Son Template:Nom
1993 Grammy Award Album of the Year Beauty and the Beast Template:Nom
1995 CableACE Award Directing a Comedy Series Dream On Template:Nom

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

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