| Robby Benson  AKA Robin David Segal
Born: 21-Jan-1956
Birthplace: Dallas, TX
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor Nationality: United States
Executive summary: 1970s teen idol Robby Benson was a squeaky clean and literally squeaky teen heartthrob actor in the 1970s, who has disappeared since. His mother was a singer and actress, and Benson was on stage playing her son at the age of five. Through his childhood he made commercials for Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, American Airlines, and Dial soap, and at 11 he made his film debut as an extra in Audrey Hepburn's classic thriller Wait Until Dark. At 12 he appeared on Broadway in Zelda, with Ed Begley, Sr.. In the 1976 film of Bobbie Gentry's Ode to Billy Joe, Benson played Billy Joe McAllister, and jumped off the Talahatchi Bridge. Benson's last success as an actor was a supporting role as a priest who counsels suicidal Burt Reynolds in The End (1978), and in 1991 he had his biggest hit as the voice of the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
He wrote a song that was featured on the soundtrack for John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, and wrote, directed, and starred in the 1990 flop Modern Romance. In recent years, Benson has worked mostly as a TV director, on shows including Dream On, Reynolds' Evening Shade, Ellen, and Friends. He has also taught film and theater at several universities.
Benson was born with a heart defect, necessitating open heart surgery when he was 28, and again when he was 42. He is an activist and fundraiser for heart research, and wrote the book, lyrics, and music for a play called Open Heart, starring Benson, which opened and closed off-Broadway in 2004.
Father: Jerry Segal
Mother: Ann Benson (nightclub singer)
Sister: Shelli Segal (clothing designer, Laundry brand)
Wife: Karla DeVito (actress, Bonkers, b. 29-May-1953, m. 1982)
Daughter: Lyric Benson
Son: Zephyr Benson
High School: Lincoln Square Academy, New York City
Teacher: Artist-in-Residence, University of South Carolina (1988-90)
Teacher: Appalachian State University
Professor: Acting Professor, University of Utah
American Heart Association
TELEVISION
American Dreams Prof. Witt (2002-03)
House of Mouse Beast (2001-03)
Search for Tomorrow Bruce Carson (1972)
FILMOGRAPHY AS DIRECTOR
Modern Love (20-Apr-1990)
FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
MXP: Most Xtreme Primate (20-Jan-2004) · Edward
Just a Dream (16-Mar-2002)
Dragonheart: A New Beginning (8-Aug-2000) [VOICE]
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (11-Nov-1997) [VOICE]
Precious Victims (28-Sep-1993)
At Home with the Webbers (1993) · Roger Swade
Beauty and the Beast (13-Nov-1991) [VOICE]
Modern Love (20-Apr-1990)
Rent-a-Cop (15-Jan-1988)
City Limits (1-Sep-1985)
California Girls (24-Mar-1985)
Harry and Son (2-Mar-1984)
Running Brave (4-Nov-1983)
Two of a Kind (9-Oct-1982)
National Lampoon's Movie Madness (23-Apr-1982) · Brent Falcone
The Chosen (Aug-1981) · Danny Saunders
Tribute (14-Dec-1980)
Die Laughing (Apr-1980)
Walk Proud (15-Jun-1979)
Ice Castles (31-Dec-1978) · Nick Peterson
The End (10-May-1978) · The Priest
One On One (28-Jun-1977)
Our Town (30-May-1977)
The Death of Richie (10-Jan-1977)
Ode to Billy Joe (4-Jun-1976)
Lucky Lady (25-Dec-1975)
Death Be Not Proud (4-Feb-1975)
All the Kind Strangers (12-Nov-1974)
Remember When (23-Mar-1974)
Jeremy (13-Dec-1973) · Jeremy Jones
Jory (Feb-1973)
Official Website:
http://www.robbybenson.net/
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