Robby Benson

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For the Irish footballer, see Robbie Benson.

Robby Benson
Robby Benson (2036244417) (cropped).jpg
Benson in 2007
Born
Robin David Segal

(1956-01-21) January 21, 1956 (age 65)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • composer
  • teacher
  • filmmaker
Years active1965–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2
Parent(s)Jerry Segal
Freda Ann Benson
WebsiteRobbyBenson.net

Robby Benson (born Robin David Segal; January 21, 1956) is an American actor, singer, composer, teacher, and filmmaker. He rose to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1970s, appearing in the sports films One on One (1977) and Ice Castles (1978). He subsequently garnered more fame for portraying the voice of Beast in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991) and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. He later forged a career in directing television, including six episodes of the sitcom Friends.

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 life[]

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.[1] His family is Jewish.[2][3] When Benson was five years old, his family relocated to New York City, where he was raised.[1] He subsequently took his mother's maiden name as his stage name when he was 10.[3][4] Benson attended the Lincoln Square Academy in Manhattan, where he graduated at age fourteen as the class valedictorian.[1]

Career[]

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 Rothschilds (1970).[5] He had an appearance in a 1971 commercial for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups alongside Donny Most who would later co-star in Happy Days. Benson had an early role on the daytime soap Search for Tomorrow (1971–72). 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.[6]

In 1975, Benson appeared in Death Be Not Proud and Lucky Lady.[6] 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[6] (which he co-wrote with his father and needed no double for the authentic looking college basketball scenes due to his prowess at the game) and the TV movie The Death of Richie. In 1978, he co-starred in The End and Ice Castles.[6] Benson, who had never ice skated before, learned to skate in order to film the movie, which had numerous skating scenes, including ice hockey.[7] In 1980, Benson starred in Die Laughing and Tribute.[8]

In 1981, he costarred in The Chosen, based on the book of the same name by Chaim Potok.[6][7] The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, but noted that Benson's character was "full of a gentle inquisitiveness that cannot help but win the audience's sympathy."[9][10] Benson played Olympic 10,000-meter gold medalist Billy Mills in the 1983 film Running Brave. In 1991, he starred as the voice of Beast in the acclaimed animated Disney film Beauty and the Beast. Later in the 1990s he voiced lead character J.T. Marsh on the acclaimed sci-fi cartoon series Exosquad.

His 2007 novel Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood landed Benson on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list.[11] Benson's medical memoir I'm Not Dead ... Yet! was released in June 2012.[12] Outside of acting, Benson is also a musician and composer.[13] He has composed songs in several films and has also won a RIAA Gold Records award for the song "We Are Not Alone" in the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club.[13]

Benson has been a professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, the University of Utah and the University of South Carolina.[14] It was announced he would serve as a professor of Practice in the fall of 2013 at Indiana University.[15] Benson left the university after the Spring 2016 semester when his three-year contract expired.[16]

Personal life[]

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.[17] Together they have two children, daughter Lyric (b. 1983) and son Zephyr (b. 1992).[18] He practices Transcendental Meditation.[7]

Health problems and activism[]

While a teenager, Benson was diagnosed with a heart murmur caused by a bicuspid aortic valve defect.[19] Benson began experiencing symptoms such as dizziness and losing consciousness in his late twenties, and subsequently underwent his first open-heart surgery in October 1984 to repair the valve defect.[20][21] He received a bovine valve transplant, which lasted fifteen years.[22] After the bovine valve failed, Benson was required to have a second surgery in 2000,[23] during which he underwent the Ross procedure. For six years after his second surgery, Benson had consistent struggles breathing.[22] He subsequently underwent a third open-heart surgery, during which it was discovered that his aortic valve had buckled from the previous procedure and was closed approximately 90%, accounting for the breathing problems he had endured for the previous six years.[22] Benson received a delicate fourth surgery known as the "reverse Ross procedure" to correct damage to his heart in 2010.[24]

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.[25] Benson also has spoken about his dealing with post-surgical cardiac depression, commenting after his fourth surgery:

They still saw your chest right down the middle, but they've done it [to me] enough that you no longer think about it as life-threatening. It's just a very tough surgery to go through. Doctors have also gotten better at helping you through the healing process. How we heal and how we deal with cardiac depression and how we can jump start our lives and get back on track. Doctors used to never talk about things like that and now they do.[24]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Wait Until Dark Boy tossing ball Uncredited
1973 Jory Jory Walden
1973 Jeremy Jeremy Jones Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male
1975 Lucky Lady Billy
1975 Death Be Not Proud Johnny Gunther
1976 Ode to Billy Joe Billy Joe McAllister
1977 The Death of Richie Richie
1977 One on One Henry Steele
1978 The End Father Dave Benson
1978 Ice Castles Nick Peterson
1979 Walk Proud Emilio Mendez Stinker Award for Worst Fake Accent: Male
Stinker Award for Worst Actor
1980 Die Laughing Pinsky Stinker Award for Most Annoying Fake Accent: Male
Nominated — Stinker Award for Worst Actor
Nominated — Stinker Award for Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or End Credits
1980 Tribute Jud Templeton Nominated — Stinker Award for Worst Actor
1981 The Chosen Danny Saunders
1982 Movie Madness Brent Falcone
1983 Running Brave Billy Mills
1984 Harry & Son Howard Keach Nominated — Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
1985 City Limits Carver
1987 Rent-a-Cop Pitts
1989 White Hot Scott
1990 Modern Love Greg Also writer, director and producer
1991 Beauty and the Beast The Beast/Prince (voice) Nominated — Grammy Award for Album of the Year
1992 Invasion of Privacy Alex Pruitt
1993 Deadly Exposure Max Pierce
1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas The Beast/Prince (voice) Direct-to-video
1998 Belle's Magical World Direct-to-video
1999 Belle's Tales of Friendship Direct-to-video
2000 Dragonheart: A New Beginning Drake (voice)
2000 The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus Young Santa Claus (voice)
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

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1971–1972 Search for Tomorrow Bruce Carson 2 episodes
1974 Remember When Frankie Hodges Television film
1974 All the Kind Strangers John Television film
1974 Virginia Hill Leroy Small Television film
1975 Death Be Not Proud Johnny Gunther Television film
1976 One Day at a Time Ken Episode: "The College Man"
1976 The Last of Mrs. Lincoln Tad Lincoln Television film
1977 The Death of Richie Richie Werner Television film
1977 Our Town George Gibbs Television film
1982 Two of a Kind Noel 'Nolie' Minor Television film
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
1985 California Girls Nathan Bowzer Television film
1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ed Episode: "Method Actor"
1985 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible David (voice) 1 episode
1986 Tough Cookies Det. Cliff Brady 6 episodes
1986 David and Goliath David (voice) Video short
1989 For Jenny with Love Bud TV series
1990 Deadly Nightmares Bart Episode: "Tourist Trap"
1991–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Prince Valiant (voice) 5 episodes
1992 P.J. Sparkles Blaze (voice) Animated television film
1992 Batman: The Animated Series Wilkes (voice) Episode: "P.O.V."
1992 Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa Additional voices 3 episodes
1992 Homewrecker David Whitson Television film
1992 Lincoln Additional voices Television film
1993 Avonlea Jonathan Ravenhurst Blackwell Episode: "The Disappearance"
1993 At Home with the Webbers Roger Swade Television film
1993 Precious Victims Robert Sims Television film
1993–1994 Exosquad Lt./Lt. Cmdr J.T. Marsh (voice) 52 episodes
1994 The Magic School Bus Archibald Seedplot (voice) Episode: "Goes to Seed"
1996 O. Henry's Christmas Jim Television film
1996–1997 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Edward Spellman 2 episodes
2000 The Christmas Lamb Asah (voice) Animated television film
2001 The Huntress Dana Weatherly Episode: "Who Are You?"
2001–2002 Disney's House of Mouse The Beast/Prince Adam (voice) 8 episodes
2002–2003 American Dreams Prof. Witt / Professor Witt 8 episodes
2019 A Feeling of Home Wes (Abby's dad) Hallmark Channel Television Film

Video games[]

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
1992 King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow Prince Alexander
2000 Disney's Beauty and the Beast Magical Ballroom The Beast/Prince
2002 Kingdom Hearts The Beast/Prince
2006 Kingdom Hearts II The Beast/Prince
2007 Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ The Beast/Prince
2011 Kinect Disneyland Adventures The Beast/Prince
2020 Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory The Beast/Prince

Theatre[]

Year Title Role Notes
1970 The Rothschilds Urchin Broadway
1981 The Pirates of Penzance Frederic
2004 Open Heart Jimmy Off-Broadway

Production credits[]

Director[]

  • 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)
  • 2008 Billy: The Early Years

Producer[]

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

Writer[]

Composer[]

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

Discography[]

Singles[]

  • "Blue Balloon (The Hourglass Song)" (1973)[26]
  • "Hey Everybody" (1974)[26]
  • "A Rock and Roll Song" (1975)[26]
  • "Adios Yesterday" (1979)[26]
  • "All I Want Is Love" (1980)[26]

Awards and nominations[]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result
1974 Golden Globe Most Promising Newcomer - Male Jeremy Nominated
1979 Stinker Award Worst Actor
Worst Fake Accent: Male 		Walk Proud Won
1980 Stinker Award Worst Actor Die Laughing, Tribute Nominated
1980 Stinker Award Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or End Credits Die Laughing Won
1980 Stinker Award Worst Fake Accent: Male Die Laughing Won
1983 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Two of a Kind Nominated
1985 Razzie Awards Worst Supporting Actor Harry & Son Nominated
1993 Grammy Award Album of the Year Beauty and the Beast Nominated
1995 CableACE Award Directing a Comedy Series Dream On Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Reilly, Sue (July 11, 1979). "To Jon Peters, Robby Benson Is Today's 'Greatest Young Talent'—Women Like Him Too". People. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Gordon, Buzz (July 4, 2003). "Pulling Up Stakes". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Roston, Tom (October 12, 2008). "Robby Benson directs 'Billy: The Early Years'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  4. ^ Maslin, Janet (August 19, 1977). "One-on-one Star And Writer Robby Benson Elated By Role..." St. Petersburg Times. p. 14D. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  5. ^ "Wait Until Dark". RareFilmFinder. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Robby Benson". TV Guide. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Benson, Robby (2012). I'm Not Dead Yet!. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0983141655.
  8. ^ "Film Reviews: Tribute". Variety. December 31, 1979. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Maslin, Janet (April 30, 1982). "Movie review: 'The Chosen'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  10. ^ Bloom, Harold, ed. (2005). Chaim Potok's "The Chosen". Chelsea House. p. 15. ISBN 978-0791081730.
  11. ^ Benson, Robby (October 13, 2009). Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0061756092. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Host:Guy Raz (September 29, 2012). "Actor Robby Benson Is 'Not Dead ... Yet!'". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bio & Photos". Robby Benson Official. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "Teaching". Robby Benson Official. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  15. ^ "Actor and director Robby Benson to join Indiana University's telecommunications faculty" (Press release). Indiana University. March 25, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Creps, Marcela (April 25, 2016). "Robbie Benson leaving IU, having made a lasting impact". Bloomington Herald-Times. Retrieved May 3, 2020 – via Indiana University.
  17. ^ Mackay, Kathy (October 11, 1982). "Gilbert and Sullivan's Most Improbable Pair? Robby Benson and Rocker Karla DeVito". People.
  18. ^ Roston, Tom (October 12, 2008). "The odd career twist of a former screen heartthrob". Los Angeles Times.
  19. ^ Ordoña, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Robby Benson opens up about his heart in many ways in iBook". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Actor Robby Benson, who underwent heart surgery Oct. 31, has been discharged". United Press International. November 10, 1984. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "Robby Benson: Inside His 'Brutal Experience' of Four Heart Surgeries". People. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Robby Benson's Open Heart Surgeries". The Doctors. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "Benson is alive and talking—about health". USA Today. September 26, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Robby Benson and the secret he kept from Hollywood". The Maine Edge. December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019.
  25. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (March 23, 2004). "Theater in Review: Words Can Never Harm Him, But Cardiac Arrest Can". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Robby Benson". Discogs. Retrieved July 12, 2021.

External links[]

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