• Name: Robby Benson
  • Date of Birth: January 21, 1956
  • Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
Mini-bio: When 13-year-old Robby Benson appeared with "Josephine the Plumber" (Jane Withers) in a well-circulated TV commercial of the late 1960s, he was already a ten-year veteran of show business. The son of ... read morea writer and a stage actress, Benson went from the straw-hat theater circuit to the leading role of Oliver in a 1964 Japanese touring production. At fourteen he made his Broadway debut, and at that same time became the first of five actors to play the role of Bruce Carson on the TV daytime drama Search for Tomorrow. In films from 1972, Benson specialized in playing sensitive teenagers with severe emotional and/or physical problems. He also was frequently co-starred in romantic roles with young actress Glynnis O'Connor, notably in the 1973 film Jeremy and the 1977 TV production of Our Town. While his early theatrical films were generally okay, Benson was better served in made-for-TV movies: he was excellent as the dying son of author John Gunther in Death Be Not Proud (1975) and as George Burns' mentally retarded grandson in Two of a Kind (83). Benson endured an awkward period in the 1980s when, except for such career highlights as The Chosen (1981), he seemed to be pulling out the same bag of acting tricks in role after role. An effort to establish himself as a producer resulted in the unsuccessful Die Laughing (1979). He backed away from show business in 1984 when he underwent delicate open-heart surgery; the ordeal seemed to strengthen his resolve to broaden his performing skills. He starred as a tough Chicago cop in a brief TV series Tough Cookies (1986), and in 1988 directed his first film, Crack in the Mirror. Benson's most successful film project of recent years was one in which his face was never seen: as the growling, deep-voiced Beast in the Disney cartoon feature Beauty and the Beast (though touted in some articles as his voiceover debut, Benson had actually been dubbing TV cartoons for several years, notably the 1991 series Pirates of Dark Water). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Replace this image with an actor photoRobby Benson mini-bio: Benson had an early role on the daytime soap Search for Tomorrow (1971-72). As a film star, Benson was popular for roles of teens in coming-of-age films, such as in 1972's Jory (his screen debut), and as Billy Joe McAllister in Ode to Billy Joe (1976). He was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1976" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 28. [1976]. Robby Benson received critical acclaim for his role as the ice skating coach, Nick Peterson, in Ice Castles (1978).

Other notable performances include Death Be Not Proud and Lucky Lady, both in 1975, and One on One in 1977. Also in 1977 came the TV movie The Death of Richie, co-starring actor Ben Gazzara. In Disney's animated feature film Beauty and the Beast, Benson demonstrated his vocal abilities by providing the voice of Beast which was completely unrecognizable as Benson's. He would later reprise the role in the Kingdom Hearts role-playing game series. This role led to other voice work for animated features, including the widely popular Prince Valiant cartoon series. Benson also lends his voice to some computer and video game work, such as the voice of Prince Alexander in the computer game King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow.

Benson directed over 100 episodes of sitcoms including Friends, Sabrina, and an entire season of Ellen. The Ellen sitcom paid homage to Benson's final Ice Castles line ("We forgot about the flowers.") in one episode. Benson is currently a visiting professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, having previously taught at Appalachian State University and the University of South Carolina. Benson has been married to Karla DeVito since 1982. They have two children, a daughter named Lyric and a son named Zephyr (his daughter, Lyric Benson, is not the young woman of the same name who was murdered in New York City by her boyfriend in 2003). Benson had heart valve surgery in October 1984.

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  • Which actor provided his voice for the role of Beast in the animated movie Beauty and the Beast?  Answer »
  • who portrayed Billy Joe in Ode To Billy Joe ?  Answer »
  • What former teen heartthrob voiced the Beast in Beauty and the Beast?  Answer »
  • Who played Billy Joe McAllister in Ode to Billy Joe(1976)?  Answer »

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