His father was screenwriter Jerry Segal, and his mother, Ann, was an actress. BENSON, Robby 1956-(Bobby Benson, Robbie Benson,Robin Benson, Robby Segal, Robin David Segal) Source for information on Benson, Robby 1956-: . When he received Mortoffs call for Billy: The Early Years, he had been biding his time on his small farm in North Carolina with his wife, Karla DeVito, an actor-singer (best known for singing backup to Meat Loaf), and their children, 16-year-old son Zephyr and 24-year-old daughter Lyric. Some of the hit movies he has featured in include Apple Seed in 2019, Brave New World in 2011, Just a Dream in 2002, Beauty and the Beast in 1991, Die Laughing in 1980, Walk Proud in 1979, One on One in 1977, Jeremy in 1973, and Jory Walden in 1973. And endless possibilities.Discover OWN TV:Find OWN on you TV! "[10][11] Benson played Olympic 10,000-meter gold medalist Billy Mills in the 1983 film Running Brave. He had also previously published a book in 2007 named Who Stole the Funny? which was written right after he decided to leave the Hollywood industry. And throughout it all, DeVito stuck with him. [13], His 2007 novel Who Stole the Funny? Its their film, he says. He has starred in such films as One on One, Ode To Billie Joe, Ice Castles, Jeremy (Golden Globe nominee) Tribute, Harry and Son, Running Brave, The Chosen, Die Laughing (wrote screenplay & music), Walk Proud (scored the film as well), The End, Lucky Lady, Death Be Not Proud (Golden Globe nominee), The Last of Mrs. Lincoln, and Our Town among a few. BENSON AND his producers all say that they wanted to make Billy: The Early Years for more than just a Christian audience. The film also features Morgan Freeman. During his first surgery, at 28, his aortic valve was replaced with a bovine valve. Mortoff, who says he couldnt imagine anyone doing a better job than Robby, concedes that he had to mediate frictions during filmmaking. Other television films he has appeared in include 1982 Two of a Kind, 1992 Homewrecker, 1993 Precious Victims, and Lincon. [21] He practices Transcendental Meditation. Benson was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann (ne Benson), a singer, actor, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer. Robby Benson Visits - Home & Family Hallmark Channel 553K subscribers Subscribe 453 44K views 3 years ago Actor Robby Benson stops by to talk about his new Hallmark Channel Original Movie, "A. I Image: Getty Images. [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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. . Robby Benson and Karla DeVito at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, 18th January 1992 | Source: Getty Images. [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. ", The More I Think About It All, The More I Feel So Very Small, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Special Edition. His cloying sensitivity in over-the-top roles may have made him a whipping boy for critics, but he won the admiration of teenage girls and nice guys everywhere. At USC, Benson produced a romantic comedy, Modern Love, that was used for teaching purposes. Caught Smoking: These Are The 60 Most Shocking Celebrity Smokers, These 50 Celebrity Tattoos Went Horribly Wrong, Top 60 Celebrities Without Makeup (Before & After), 40 Whopping Homes & Cars Of Celebrities That Will Amaze You, Top 55 of Worlds Richest Actors Current Net Worth, Top 60 Craziest Tattoos Of Celebrities in 2023, Top 15 Highest-Paid Soccer Players Of All-Time Revealed (2023). ); Benson wrote the libretto and composed the music for the musical that opened in NYC at The Historic Cherry Lane Theatre (Open Heart), and wrote the best-selling novel, "Who Stole The Funny?" ); () It was really funny, I never thought of myself as a star.. Born Robin David Segal on January 21, 1956, in Dallas, Texas, Benson was welcomed into a house that was familiar with the theater. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Later in the 1990s he voiced lead character J.T. Please log in if you don't want to post performer: "Puss in Boots", "The Little Match Girl", "The Gift of the Magi", "Rapunzel", performer: "WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? [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. Jane Krakowski Robby Benson has been a professor of film production at several universities for 20 years. For more on #WhereAreTheyNow, visit http://bit.ly/2dTkIT9Find OWN on TV at http://www.oprah.com/FindOWN#OWNTV #WhereAreTheyNow #OprahwinfreySUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/1vqD1PNDownload the Watch OWN App: http://bit.ly/2hr1nX2About Where Are They Now:Their stories made headlines across America. produced and directed over one hundred episodes of Network shows: from one-hour single camera to 30-minute sitcoms including many top ten shows such as Ellen, Friends, Dharma & Greg, Jesse, The Naked Truth, Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place, Sabrina The Teenage Witch (also directed the pilot), Dream On (nominated Best Director/Single Camera), Muddling Through, Good Advice, Monty, Evening Shade and many more. In 1978, he co-starred in The End and Ice Castles. 21 1956 [1] [2], ) , , , , , , . Unfortunately, their love went sour, and the couples separated. but Harry and Son looks like a first effort, partly because the screenplay has no focus and no particular tone of voice . Teen idol Robby Benson turned 67 on January 21, 2023! He began his career in the theater, (Oliver, The King and I); on Broadway (co-starring in Zelda, The Rothschilds and Joseph Papp's The Pirates of Penzance, where he met and fell in love with the great, Karla DeVito! This past spring, after Hagee made remarks that many felt disparaged the Catholic Church, McCain distanced himself from him. He got popular after appearing in the sports movie One on One and Ice Castles. Heart. And I fought that fight the whole way.. [citation needed], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 29%, based on 24 reviews, and an average rating of 4.4/10. Robby Benson (born Robin David Segal; January 21, 1956) is an American actor and director. 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The screenplay by Newman and Ronald Buck focuses on the relationship between a blue-collar worker and his son (Robby Benson), who fails at various odd jobs while aspiring to be a writer. Lo and behold, this is our Top 60 of celebrities that have been caught smoking or, Celebrities dont always wear makeup anymore. Unfortunately, this second surgery was botched, leading to more surgery between 1998 and 2010. The actor revealed how he survived harrowing health issues and a "sadistic" nurse, and how his wife stood with him on every step of the road. I simply had an opportunity to make a movie -- and it wasnt a slasher. But it was more than that. Also, he has excellent control over his lifestyle. OWN is a singular destination on cable. After being abandoned by her lover, Katie's relationship with Howard rekindles. Her daughter Katie, a former high-school girlfriend of Howard's with whom he broke up due to rumors of her being promiscuous, is now pregnant with another man's child. Benson's life could not have been more perfect. Benson tore into the script, which had been written by William McKay, who is also a producer of the film and the guiding light of the project. At NYU's famed Tisch School of the Arts in the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film She has one sister, Shell Segal, who is a fashion designer and owns a clothesline. I couldnt walk on a set. He turned to writing music, including the iconic song-and-dance-on-desks sequence (which DeVito sings) featured in The Breakfast Club. And he receded into the world of voice acting, his most notable role being that of Beast in Disneys animated Beauty and the Beast.. All content, including text, and images contained on. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Ice Castles VHS 1978 Lynn-Holly Johnson Robby Benson Figure Skater Romance Film at the best online prices at eBay! Danny ( Robby Benson ) is the son of the rabbi ( Rod Steiger ), who prefers that his son stay out of politics and, indeed, stay as much as possible out of the modern world. McKay praises Bensons directing talent and, as for his working relationship with him, he says, I pulled my hand back. And although McKay says that he doesnt recall giving theological notes to Benson, he adds, out of the entire cast and crew, because I am a Christian, I had more understanding of subject matters related to Billy Graham. He later became a professor at the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Indiana University, Appalachian State University, California Institute for the Arts, and UCLA. Though the characters use a lot of words that are still taboo on television, the entire project feels as small and dated as a Studio One show of the 1950s. He was a heartthrob actor with a beautiful rocker wife and a physique many could only admire. A lot of celebrities do not know what to do with their money anymore in 2022. The celebrity has shown interest in forming a love relationship leading to marriage with an opposite-sex gender. Early on, Benson learned to serve the project above all else -- his father was originally in the cotton business in Dallas, but hed also write satirical skits that Bensons mother would perform in local nightclubs. This know-it-all actor & musician originating from Dallas, Texas, United States has a slim body & square face type. For a healthy run throughout the decidedly anti-healthy 1970s, the Dallas-born, NYC-reared teenybopper supernova Robby Benson starred in a succession of largely successful puberty-focused productions on screens both big and small. When intense headaches and impaired vision cause Harry to lose control of the wrecking ball on his crane, he loses his job. 1983) and son Zephyr (b. These Are The 10 Best-Paid Television Stars In The World. [citation needed]. He famously captured the hearts. [20] Together they have two children, daughter Lyric (b. He later directed television, including six episodes of the sitcom Friends. The following year, in 1978, he was cast in Ice Castles, which confirmed his status as a preteen and a teen girls favorite. 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. Robby Benson's Wife Stood by Him through His Health Struggles. I never learned how to protect myself. Though Jerry worked in the cotton business, they were all committed to the theater life. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. His mother, who was an actress, inspired him to become an actor. Budget. Widower Harry Keach is a construction worker in South Florida, who was raised to appreciate the importance of working for a living. However, as one of the major 70s teen idols and the voice of Beast in Disneys 1991 animated film, Beauty and the Beast, he is immediately recognizable. In 1984, Benson, who had been born with a weak heart valve, went through open-heart surgery that rendered him uninsurable, he says. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! One of his albums was a hit and brought him much money as well as winning an award. 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Watch as he describes the moment his health crisis made the news.Tune in Friday at 9/8c. He completed his education at the age of 14 and graduated. Robby first girlfriend was Glynnis, an actress. He lives together in a house in Dallas, Texas, United States. Other income sources come from directing and producing movies. The pair met while starring together in The Pirates of Penzance. Bensons first question to Mortoff during that phone call was: Are we making a religious film or a feature film? When Mortoff, a producer who made the unusual leap from horror films (Hellraiser) to Christian-themed fare (The Omega Code), told Benson it would be a feature, it was the answer he wanted to hear. By the time Benson's third surgery happened, he knew something was wrong with his breathing. They give us so many relationships, so many problems, so many emotional hazards, so many colorful characters, we need a battery-lighted ballpoint, so we can take notes in the dark. They wanted to make a movie about someone whose face could be chiseled into a mountain, Benson says. Advertisement | does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. 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. I had no business being in those circles, Benson says. Billy follows a pretty standard biopic formula, including Grahams aw-shucks upbringing on a farm, his early religious awakening, learning to preach and connect from the pulpit, and the genial courtship of his wife. Here are 22 essential L.A. spots for every tourist, Column: We cant afford another writers strike. Robby Benson was one of the most popular teen idols back in the '70s! The actor & musician his starsign is Aquarius and he is now 67 years of age. Amazon.com: Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse [DVD] : Robby Benson, Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, David Ogden Stiers, Burny Mattinson: Movies & TV Movies & TV Holidays & Seasonal Christmas Buy new: 47 FREE delivery Monday, April 3 Sold by Payment Secure transaction We work hard to protect your security and privacy. The entertainer is known for his roles in numerous films, including "Ice Castles," "The Chosen," "Harry and Son," and even "Beauty and the Beast" as the voice of the Beast, and he wrote the screenplay for "One on One.". His averages salary is in the range of $19,647-$210,569. Robin David Segal, popularly known by his stage name, "Robby Benson," is an American actor, singer, musician, director, producer, author, composer, and educator. Because, mostly, you dont get the good phone calls.. For their 40th anniversary, Benson posted a photo on Facebook with his wife and mentioned how "lucky" he is to have her beside him, especially considering all his health struggles. Robby Benson, Kathy Griffin, Jason Alexander, and more celebrities are mourning the death of legendary actor Angela Lansbury. Well, how well do you know about Robby Benson? He signed on the next day. Robby began his professional career in the 1970s. [2] He subsequently took his mother's name as his stage name when he was 10. I was into show business straight from the womb. For six years after his second surgery, Benson had consistent struggles breathing. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Yet! He is also an author and has written several books, some of which have been best-selling. He was in a discarded scene for Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather Part II, auditioned for the role of Luke Skywalker (which he obviously did not get) in "Star Wars," and became so famous with his characteristic Beast voice that he usually gets asked to say something for his fans phones. Benson took his family and left Hollywood to teach filmmaking at the University of South Carolina. Bensons direction received mixed results from the Graham camp. [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. Benson, best known for his Windex blue eyes and wispy voice, starred in a trifecta of feature films between 1976 and 1978 -- Ode to Billy Joe (in which his sexually conflicted character throws himself from a bridge), One on One (a triumphant tale about his scrawny basketball star) and Ice Castles (about his hockey tough who melts for a blind figure skater). Much of the film was shot in Lake Worth, Florida. The family moved to New York City, where Bensons father became a comedy writer. In 1974, he featured in the television film Remember When. Benson commented about his wife: "She helped me find doctors, she made sure I was getting the best treatment, the right medicine. [25] 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. 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