Robby Benson Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Discover Robby Benson net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday — a deep look at his career, family life, and legacy.
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Robby Benson Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
Robby Benson is an American actor, voice artist, director and educator best known for his transition from 1970s teen-idol to Disney legend and enduring creative career.
Introduction
Robby Benson, born Robin David Segal on January 21, 1956, has long stood out as a versatile performer — from teen-idol leading man to the commanding voice of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, to accomplished television director and educator. His estimated net worth has been placed at approximately US$2 million, and his personal life has been anchored by a stable and lasting marriage. In this article, we dive into Robby Benson’s net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday, exploring how his talents and life story intersect.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robin David Segal (professionally known as Robby Benson) |
| Age/Birthdate | January 21, 1956 |
| Birthday | January 21 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, voice artist, director, composer, educator |
| Estimated Net Worth | US$2 million |
| Relationship Status | Married (to Karla DeVito) |
| Known For | Leading roles in 1970s films, voice of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, TV directing, composing, teaching |
From Child Actor to Hollywood Headliner
Robby Benson's journey began in Dallas, Texas, where he was born to Jewish parents, Freda Ann (née Benson) and Jerry Segal. Early exposure to the entertainment world — his mother being a performer and promoter — likely planted the seeds of ambition. The family later relocated to New York, where young Robin adopted his mother’s maiden name, “Benson,” around the age of ten.
He made his film debut with a small role in Wait Until Dark (1967), and quickly moved to Broadway stages. By the early 1970s, Benson was landing substantial roles on screen. His emergence as a teen-idol was catalyzed by films like Ode to Billy Joe (1976) and Ice Castles (1978), resonating with youth audiences and critics alike.
Defining moments in Robby Benson’s journey include:
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? Breakthrough as a teen lead in Ode to Billy Joe and Ice Castles.
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? Transition to more mature, complex roles in films such as The Chosen (1981).
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? Shift behind the camera — writing, directing and producing films, including Modern Love (1990).
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?️ Legendary voice performance as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast (1991), cementing his legacy in animation and voice acting.
Through this evolution, Benson demonstrated adaptability — refusing to be typecast as just a youthful heartthrob, and instead forging a lasting, multifaceted career.
The Core Pillars of Robby Benson’s Wealth
Robby Benson’s financial standing — modest by Hollywood megastar standards — stems from a variety of pursuits over decades.
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Acting in Films & Television — Early starring roles in Hollywood gave him visibility and sustained income.
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Voice Acting & Animation — His acclaimed voice of the Beast added enduring royalties and recognition.
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Directing & Producing — Writing, directing, and producing his own films, such as Modern Love, broadened his creative control and revenue streams.
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Teaching & Education — Serving as a professor at institutions such as New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and others contributed supplemental income and legacy-building.
While publicly available estimates remain limited — e.g. one source cites US$2 million as his net worth. — these varied endeavors illustrate how Benson sustained a lasting career beyond fleeting fame.
Relationships & Family: A Lifetime Partnership
Robby Benson has long valued stability in his personal life. On July 11, 1982, he married singer-actress Karla DeVito, after meeting during a production of The Pirates of Penzance. Together they have two children: a daughter, Lyric, born in 1983, and a son, Zephyr, born in 1992.
Key insights into Robby Benson’s relationships and personal life:
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? A longstanding marriage spanning decades, indicating personal commitment and stability.
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???? Fatherhood with two children, balancing career and family life.
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?♂️ Personal well-being focus: Benson practices Transcendental Meditation.
This enduring partnership and family grounding seem to have provided a steady foundation even as his career shifted and diversified.
Beyond the Spotlight: Lifestyle, Passions & Advocacy
Beyond screen credits and voice work, Benson’s personal life reveals a man driven by purpose, art, and advocacy.
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❤️ Heart-health activism: Born with a congenital aortic-valve defect, Benson endured four open-heart surgeries over the decades — starting in 1984. In response, he turned his personal struggle into advocacy, writing and producing the Off-Broadway play Open Heart in 2004 to raise awareness and funds for heart research.
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? Teaching & mentorship: Through roles at institutions like NYU’s Tisch School, he has helped nurture new generations of filmmakers — an investment in the future of storytelling.
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? Musical talent & composition: Beyond acting, Benson has written songs and composed music for films. His work on the soundtrack for The Breakfast Club earned a gold-record award.
In short: Benson’s lifestyle reflects both creative passion and a deeply human commitment to advocacy and education.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
| Category | Estimated Value | Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures & Film Work | — | Long career in acting, directing, producing; earnings over decades |
| Voice Acting & Animation (e.g. Beast in Beauty and the Beast) | — | Adds royalties / residuals to long-term income stream |
| Teaching & Academic Roles | — | Additional, steady income outside mainstream entertainment |
| Total Estimated Net Worth | US$2 million | Public estimate from CelebrityNetWorth |
Because publicly available data is limited, most of Benson’s wealth comes from the accumulation of steady, diverse income sources rather than a single blockbuster payday. His financial profile reflects a long-term career built on consistency, adaptability, and creative reinvention.
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
Robby Benson occupies a unique place in popular culture — not defined by tabloid flash but by steady dedication and quiet reinvention. In his era as a teen heartthrob, his performances in coming-of-age films made him the poster child of youthful sentimentality. Later, his voice role as the Beast provided cultural immortality: generations of animation fans came to know that voice, even if they didn’t know the man behind it.
As a director and educator, Benson extended his influence beyond performance — shaping television episodes, launching film projects, mentoring students, and contributing to the arts in multiple dimensions. His advocacy for heart-health and openness about his own surgeries also showed a willingness to turn personal adversity into public good.
In many ways, Benson’s legacy lies not in flashy headlines but in an enduring body of work built on versatility, resilience, and authenticity.
Conclusion
Robby Benson’s story — from born-as-Robin David Segal to Hollywood actor, Disney voice legend, director, composer, and educator — is one of reinvention, resilience, and quiet achievement. With an estimated net worth of US$2 million, a longstanding marriage to Karla DeVito, and a birthdate of January 21, 1956, his life is marked as much by personal perseverance as by creative success.
His journey shows that fame need not be fleeting to be meaningful: through decades of work, shifting mediums, and personal challenges, Benson built a career — and a life — on passion, purpose, and integrity. For those who look beyond the spotlight, that legacy may be his greatest role yet.
