Robby Benson

Last updated

Robby Benson
Robby Benson Photo Op GalaxyCon Minneapolis 2019.jpg
Benson at GalaxyCon Minneapolis in 2019
Born
Robin David Segal

(1956-01-21) January 21, 1956 (age 68)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • television director
  • singer
  • composer
  • teacher
Years active1965–present
Spouse
(m. 1982)
Children2
Website robbybenson.net

Robby Benson (born Robin David Segal; January 21, 1956 [1] ) 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 .

Contents

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. [2] His family is Jewish. [3] [4] When Benson was five years old, his family relocated to New York City, where he was raised. [2] He subsequently took his mother's name as his stage name when he was 10. [4] [5] Benson attended the Lincoln Square Academy in Manhattan, where he graduated at age fourteen as the class valedictorian. [2]

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). [6] 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 . [7] 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 . [7] 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 [7] (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 . [7] Benson, who had never ice skated before, learned to skate in order to film the movie, which had numerous skating scenes, including ice hockey. [8] In 1980, Benson starred in Die Laughing and Tribute . [9]

In 1981, he costarred in The Chosen , based on the book of the same name by Chaim Potok. [7] [8] 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." [10] [11] 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. [12] 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 . [13]

Benson in 2007 Robby Benson (2036244417) (cropped).jpg
Benson in 2007

His 2007 novel Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood landed Benson on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list. [14] Benson's medical memoir I'm Not Dead ... Yet! was released in June 2012. [15] Outside of acting, Benson is also a musician and composer. [16] 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 . [16]

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. [17] It was announced he would serve as a professor of Practice in the fall of 2013 at Indiana University. [18] Benson left the university after the Spring 2016 semester when his three-year contract expired. [19]

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 . [20] Together they have two children, daughter Lyric (b. 1983) and son Zephyr (b. 1992). [21] He practices Transcendental Meditation. [8]

Health problems and activism

While a teenager, Benson was diagnosed with a heart murmur caused by a bicuspid aortic valve defect. [22] 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. [23] [24] He received a bovine valve transplant, which lasted fifteen years. [25] After the bovine valve failed, Benson had a second surgery in 2000, [26] during which he underwent the Ross procedure. For six years after his second surgery, Benson had consistent struggles breathing. [25] 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. [25] In 2010, Benson received a delicate fourth surgery known as the "reverse Ross procedure" to correct damage to his heart. [27]

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. [28] 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. [27]

Filmography

Film

List of Robby Benson film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1967 Wait Until Dark Boy tossing ballUncredited
1973 Jory Jory Walden
Jeremy Jeremy JonesNominated — Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male
1975 Lucky Lady Billy
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 TempletonNominated — Stinker Award for Worst Actor
1981 The Chosen Danny Saunders
1982 Movie Madness Brent Falcone
1983 Running Brave Billy Mills
1984 Harry & Son Howard KeachNominated — Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
1985 City Limits Carver
1987 Rent-a-Cop Andrew Pitts
1989 White Hot ScottAlso director
1990 Modern Love GregAlso writer, director and producer
1991 Beauty and the Beast The Beast/Prince (voice) [29] Nominated — Grammy Award for Album of the Year
1992Invasion of PrivacyAlex Pruitt
1993Deadly ExposureMax Pierce
1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas [29] 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) [29]
The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus Young Santa Claus (voice) [29]
2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse The Beast/Prince (voice)Direct-to-video
2002Just a DreamDr. Sturbuck
2004 MXP: Most Xtreme Primate Edward
2011Brave New WorldDamon Heller
2019Apple SeedSirom
2023 Once Upon a Studio The Beast/Prince (voice) [29] Short film

Television

List of Robby Benson television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1971–1972 Search for Tomorrow Bruce Carson2 episodes
1974Remember WhenFrankie HodgesTelevision film
All the Kind StrangersJohn
Virginia HillLeroy Small
1975 Death Be Not Proud Johnny Gunther
1976 One Day at a Time KenEpisode: "The College Man"
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln Tad LincolnTelevision film
1977 The Death of Richie Richie Werner
Our Town George Gibbs
1982 Two of a Kind Noel 'Nolie' Minor
1985 California Girls Nathan BowzerTelevision film
Alfred Hitchcock Presents EdEpisode: "Method Actor"
The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible David (voice)Episode: "David and Goliath" [29]
1986 Tough Cookies Det. Cliff Brady6 episodes
David and Goliath David (voice)Video short
1989For Jenny with LoveBudTV series
1990 Deadly Nightmares BartEpisode: "Tourist Trap"
1991–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Prince Valiant (voice)65 episodes [29]
1992 P.J. Sparkles Blaze (voice)Television film [29]
Batman: The Animated Series Wilkes (voice)Episode: "P.O.V." [29]
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa Additional voices3 episodes
HomewreckerDavid WhitsonTelevision film
LincolnWilliam Stoddard (voice)
1993Tales of AvonleaJonathan Ravenhurst BlackwellEpisode: "The Disappearance"
At Home with the WebbersRoger SwadeTelevision 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" [29]
1996O. Henry's ChristmasJimTelevision film
1996 Caroline in the City Robby BensonEpisode: "Caroline and the Movie"
1996–1997 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Edward Spellman2 episodes
2000The Christmas LambAsah (voice)Animated television film
2001 The Huntress Dana WeatherlyEpisode: "Who Are You?"
2001–2002 House of Mouse The Beast/Prince Adam (voice)7 episodes
2002–2003 American Dreams Prof. Witt8 episodes
2019A Feeling of HomeWes (Abby's dad) Hallmark Channel Television Film
TBA Severance Season 2

Video games

List of Robby Benson video game credits
Video games
YearTitleRoleNotes
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

Theatre

List of Robby Benson theatre credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1970 The Rothschilds UrchinBroadway
1981 The Pirates of Penzance Frederic
2004Open HeartJimmyOff-Broadway

Production credits

Director

Producer

Writer

Composer

Discography

Singles

Awards and nominations

List of Robby Benson awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryTitleResult
1974 Golden Globe Most Promising Newcomer – Male Jeremy Nominated
1980 Stinker Award
  • Worst Actor
  • Worst Fake Accent: Male
Walk Proud Won
Worst Actor Die Laughing , Tribute Nominated
Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or End Credits Die Laughing Won
Worst Fake Accent: MaleWon
1983 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionTwo of a KindNominated
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

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 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. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  3. Gordon, Buzz (July 4, 2003). "Pulling Up Stakes". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles . Retrieved December 13, 2006.
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  11. Bloom, Harold, ed. (2005). Chaim Potok's "The Chosen". Chelsea House. p. 15. ISBN   978-0791081730.
  12. "Robby Benson: 1983 New York City Marathon Results and Info". NYRR Race Results. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  13. Paul, Trey (September 26, 1993). "ACTOR ROBBY BENSON PREACHES WHAT HE PRACTICES". The Buffalo News . Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  14. Benson, Robby (October 13, 2009). Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood. HarperCollins. ISBN   978-0061756092.
  15. Host:Guy Raz (September 29, 2012). "Actor Robby Benson Is 'Not Dead ... Yet!'". All Things Considered . NPR . Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "Bio & Photos". Robby Benson Official. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  17. "Teaching". Robby Benson Official. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  18. "Actor and director Robby Benson to join Indiana University's telecommunications faculty" (Press release). Indiana University. March 25, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
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  21. Roston, Tom (October 12, 2008). "The odd career twist of a former screen heartthrob". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  22. 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. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  23. "Actor Robby Benson, who underwent heart surgery Oct. 31, has been discharged". United Press International . November 10, 1984. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  24. Fleeman, Mike (October 4, 2012). "Robby Benson: Inside His 'Brutal Experience' of Four Heart Surgeries". People. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  25. 1 2 3 "Robby Benson's Open Heart Surgeries". The Doctors . October 3, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  26. Bowles, Scott (September 26, 2012). "Benson is alive and talking—about health". USA Today . Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  27. 1 2 "Robby Benson and the secret he kept from Hollywood". The Maine Edge . December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  28. 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.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Robby Benson (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 7, 2024. 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.