24 Facts About Robby Benson

Robby Benson was born on Robin David Segal; January 21,1956 and is an American actor and director.

Robby Benson rose to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1970s, appearing in the sports films One on One and Ice Castles.

Robby Benson subsequently garnered more fame for portraying the voice of Beast in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast and its numerous sequels and spin-offs.

Robby Benson later directed television, including six episodes of the sitcom Friends.

Robby Benson was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann, a singer, actor, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer.

When Robby Benson was five years old, his family relocated to New York City, where he was raised.

Robby Benson subsequently took his mother's name as his stage name when he was 10.

Robby Benson attended the Lincoln Square Academy in Manhattan, where he graduated at age fourteen as the class valedictorian.

Robby Benson made his film debut with an uncredited role in Wait Until Dark as the Boy Tossing Ball and his Broadway debut in The Rothschilds.

Robby Benson had an early role on the daytime soap Search for Tomorrow.

Robby Benson 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, Robby Benson appeared in Death Be Not Proud and Lucky Lady.

In 1977, Robby Benson starred in One on One and the TV movie The Death of Richie.

Robby Benson, who had never ice skated before, learned to skate in order to film the movie, which had numerous skating scenes, including ice hockey.

Robby Benson has composed songs in several films and has won a RIAA Gold Records award for the song "We Are Not Alone" in the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club.

Robby 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.

Robby Benson left the university after the Spring 2016 semester when his three-year contract expired.

Robby Benson has been married to singer and actress Karla DeVito since July 11,1982.

Robby 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.

Robby Benson received a bovine valve transplant, which lasted fifteen years.

For six years after his second surgery, Robby Benson had consistent struggles breathing.

Robby Benson received a delicate fourth surgery known as the "reverse Ross procedure" to correct damage to his heart in 2010.

Robby 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 starred.

Robby Benson has spoken about his dealing with post-surgical cardiac depression, commenting after his fourth surgery:.