Once one of the defining teen idols of the 1970s, Robby Benson won over audiences with his boy-next-door charm. Decades later, his life has moved far beyond that heartthrob era, shifting into new creative and personal chapters that may surprise fans.
The actor, who rose to fame in the television moviesJeremy and Ode to Billy Joe, keeps a low profile. He has stepped back from the spotlight in recent years, but continues to work as an actor, voice-over artist, and director.In the 1970s, Benson was a film staple, and his soft-spoken voice, dark hair, and blue eyes made him a perfect teenage pin-up. Alongside Leif Garrett, Kristy McNichol, Shaun Cassidy, and Brooke Shields, Benson was part of a wave of young stars who defined teen idol culture during the decade.
Throughout the ’70s, Benson appeared in the feature films Death Be Not Proud, Jory, Our Town, The End, Ice Castles, Walk Proud, Ode to Billy Joe, The Chosen, and Harry and Son. Additionally, he appeared as a guest star on One Day at a Time, wrote a soundtrack song for the film The Breakfast Club (“We Are Not Alone”) with his wife, Karla DeVito, and completed voice-over work, along with numerous other guest appearances in both film and television.
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Benson remained a working actor, musician, and voice-over artist for two decades before he was cast as the voice of the beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (the animated character has blue eyes as a nod to his portrayer). That role led to a series of voice work projects for PJ Sparkles, Batman: The Animated Series, Wild West C.O.W., Lincoln, and The Legend of Prince Valiant.
While maintaining a busy career as a working actor, the former teen idol also stepped behind the camera, directing episodes of Evening Shade, Family Album, Monty, Muddling Through, Good Advice, Exosquad, Thunder Alley, Ellen, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Jesse, 8 Simple Rules, and Friends, among others.
Most recently, Benson appeared as Dr. Mauer on Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series Severance. He told PEOPLE Magazine in March 2025, “I was very lucky that Rachel Tenner, who is the casting director for Severance, had a good idea to hire me. And so I did an audition on tape for Ben [Stiller], and it went well, and he was so lovely. I mean, he’s such a good man.”
Robby Benson has been married to songwriter Karla DeVito for 44 years. They wed on July 11, 1982. They have two children together; a daughter, Lyric (1983), and a son, Zephyr (1992).
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This story was originally published by Parade on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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