OPRAH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF HARPO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023 HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Starting this Friday, Billy will be screened in 264 theaters across the Bible Belt states -- North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, etc. But in a two-hour interview punctuated by deep sighs and long stares out the window of his office at New York Universitys film school, where he is teaching an advanced production course, the 52-year-old admits to being at odds with himself over his latest effort. She made him perform in their home theatres for various stage roles in the film The King & I that earned him much recognition that he decided to pursue acting. 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. Robby Benson is an American writer, director, composer, lyricist, actor, professor of film, filmmaker and novelist. [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. Now, the original series Oprah: Where Are They Now? Among Bensons changes, he created a fictitious and humorous scene in which Graham faints at the birth of his daughter. Everything seemed sorted, but after 13 years of living an active life with his valve replacement, the bovine valve also started to give Benson problems. I said, Lets make it fun and funny. . After several years of leading a single lifestyle, she met Robby, a singer and an actress. Heart. He enjoyed his teeny-bopper stardom but avoided the Hollywood scene and instead spent his time writing scripts, learning the trade, and acting in increasingly high-profile films. It WAS one of those wonderful phone calls, Robby Benson says, recalling February when producer Larry Mortoff dialed him up and asked if he wanted to direct Billy: The Early Years, a new film about evangelist Billy Graham being released in late October. Much of the film was shot in Lake Worth, Florida. [3][4] When Benson was five years old, his family relocated to New York City, where he was raised. [25] After the bovine valve failed, Benson was required to have a second surgery in 2000,[26] during which he underwent the Ross procedure. Im still as naive as I was then -- in certain respects, says Benson with a strained smile, wearing a green vintage New York Jets cap low on his forehead, shadowing his once-brilliant baby blues. Robby Benson, the famous teen idol, turned 67. Benson, A Jewish-American showbiz kid raised in New York City who has never had much to do with organized religion, would seem like a strange choice to direct "Billy: The Early Years," but. It would, however, pave the way for him to direct and produce many other films for personal projects, commissioned works and works for educational purposes. But talking about his life as the teen idol he was, he said: The best thing is interacting with people. And throughout it all, DeVito stuck with him. but Harry and Son looks like a first effort, partly because the screenplay has no focus and no particular tone of voice . His father was screenwriter Jerry Segal, and his mother, Ann, was an actress. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. The couples got their first girl Lyric in 1983, and the second-born son, Zephyr, was born in 1992. No. ", Karla DeVito and Robby Benson at the Cherry Lane Theatre in the West Village, NY, 2004 | Source: Getty Images, Then, in 2010, Benson had his fourth open-heart surgery. Not Hollywood, not L.A., not the country, At 19, he won a local school board seat. [2] His family is Jewish. It was directed by Lamont Johnson and features a soundtrack performed by Seals and Crofts . Many Christians, including screenwriter-producer McKay, believe that Templeton betrayed both Graham and Christ, but Benson took a more secular view of him. Robby Benson, Kathy Griffin, Jason Alexander, and more celebrities are mourning the death of legendary actor Angela Lansbury. Personal Life: Dating, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids, Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Robby Benson in 2023, Angelica Hale Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Career Details, Malcolm Nance Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Career Details, Chrissy Metz Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Career Details. For six years after his second surgery, Benson had consistent struggles breathing. Oct 11, 2021 11:40 A.M. Robby Benson and Karla DeVito are the greatest examples of "life imitates art." After performing as a romantic pair on Broadway, the couple has been living happily ever after, and Benson gushed about his love for his wife with a song to celebrate their 39th year together. 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. 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. Nick Name/Celebrated Name: He specialized in roles that made fine work of his delicate frame, helium voice, and perpetually about-to-well-up baby blues. He has produced and directed hit films and series and featured among some of the actors. Im just a work-for-hire. In his childhood, Benson landed acting roles in commercials, soaps, and on Broadway, but it was by age 17 that his career took off with his first screenplay One on One, which was co-written with his father. It's about everything. And Billy really was that for me -- artistically and politically.. Director Richard Gabai Writers Gregg Rossen Brian Sawyer Duane Poole Stars Jonna Walsh Nathan Parsons Robby Benson See production, box office & company info So, how old is Robby Benson in 2023 and what is his height and weight? 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. His mother was an actress, a business promoter manager, and an actress, while his father was a writer. 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. and Television, Benson received the honor of being nominated for both NYU's March 6, 2015, 3:48 AM. I said yes because I wanted to help make the movie good.. Over time, critics had no mercy on Benson. American actress and singer Julie Budd, wearing a blue and turquoise top, with American actor Robby Benson, wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, attend an. It does, however, distinguish itself by being framed by Grahams relationship with evangalist turned agnostic Charles Templeton, who, in his later years, is played by Landau. When he felt he was put aside, he decided to take another path in the industry and turned his life upside down. [2] He subsequently took his mother's name as his stage name when he was 10. However, during his third surgery, they realized a valve had been sown on incorrectly, leading to all his problems. But they did not always agree how to accomplish that feat. And they would look much better.. ", "BANG MY DRUMSLOWLY", "THE HARD WAY", "LOVE I CAN TASTE", performer: "Mr. Weinstein", "All I Want is Love", "Far Side of a Dream", writer: "Mr. Weinstein", "All I Want is Love", "Far Side of a Dream", performer: "Sweet Texas Onions", "Daddy, Oh", writer: "Sweet Texas Onions", "Daddy, Oh", performer: "Mr. Weinstein", "It's Too Late for Me", writer: "Mr. Weinstein", "It's Too Late for Me". He signed on the next day. While '70s star Robby Benson rose to fame with films such as, Sign up for the oprah.com this week on own newsletter, Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox. Connection. Everything seemed to be in the right place he was fit mentally and physically, even running the New York Marathon in just 3 hours and 5 . [9], In 1981, he costarred in The Chosen, based on the book of the same name by Chaim Potok. Mortoff, who says he couldnt imagine anyone doing a better job than Robby, concedes that he had to mediate frictions during filmmaking. The offer seemed like a godsend. His averages salary is in the range of $19,647-$210,569. [22] 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. And that has never changed in my life.. I had a couple of films where I really was very much a team player, he says. Throughout this time, he struggled with impaired breathing and knew something wasn't right. The film and television actor, television director and educator lived here while teaching at Appalachian State University. 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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Star power. 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. [19], Benson has been married to singer and actress Karla DeVito since July 11, 1982. During his first surgery, at 28, his aortic valve was replaced with a bovine valve. The good calls turned to bad, as Benson scored a string of box-office and critical disasters (probably the film least mentioned in the recent obituaries for Paul Newman was 1984s Harry & Son, costarring Benson). This know-it-all actor & musician originating from Dallas, Texas, United States has a slim body & square face type. Besides Disneys classic story, Benson also played voice roles in the videogames King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (1992), and Kingdom Hearts (2002). After being a rock singer in the late 70s with the band Meat Loaf and returning to Broadway, DeVito fell in love with Benson and they have not been apart ever since. As a film director, he has directed several television series that ranged from 1 episode to 25 episodes. It has been 30 years since his moment at the top. English. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. performer: "Puss in Boots", "The Little Match Girl", "The Gift of the Magi", "Rapunzel", performer: "WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? Jane Krakowski Homes - Celebrity - Entertainment - Actors. "[5], Although Time Out London felt the film was "well-acted and elegantly photographed," it thought overall, "It is nothing more than a constant succession of the kind of emotional peaks actors love to do on screen. 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. Education Benson was enrolled at Lincoln Square Academy, located in Manhattan. Get updates on your favorite shows, the latest from Oprah's world and more! In truth, I thought he was a very noble man, Benson says of Templeton. He completed his education at the age of 14 and graduated. [3] Vincent Canby of The New York Times called the film "a decently intentioned but rather drab mess of a movie" and added, "Mr. Newman has done creditable work as a director before . Hagee had recently entered the national spotlight when he endorsed John McCain when the senator from Arizona was working to win the Republican Partys presidential nomination. 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. Yet! The celebrity has shown interest in forming a love relationship leading to marriage with an opposite-sex gender. I'm alive because of her.". 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. He is selling his books and music. [citation needed] The movie set construction site was the demolition of the sister hotel affiliated with the Gulf Stream Hotel named The Inn. Advertisement His father was screenwriter Jerry Segal, and his mother, Ann, was an actress. [23][24] He received a bovine valve transplant, which lasted fifteen years. Joanne Woodward, Ellen Barkin, Ossie Davis, Wilford Brimley, and Judith Ivey also star. 14 were here. These days, Robby is now 66 years old and has dabbled in a few other career opportunities. 1983) and son Zephyr (b. Benson had known Mortoff since the two worked together on 1993s straight-to-video Deadly Exposure. Mortoff was clearly throwing a hail-Mary pass by calling Benson -- two previous directors had recently left the project, and filming was set to begin in two months. [7][8] The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, but noted that Benson's character was "full of a gentle inquisitiveness that cannot help but win the audience's sympathy. 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Robby Benson's House (former) Info Nearby (68) Google Maps Google Maps Bing Maps Bing Maps By tlp333 @ 2006-08-10 15:34:59 @ 36.201581, -81.603892 Boone, North Carolina (NC), US The film and television actor, television director and educator lived here while teaching at Appalachian State University. Depth with edge. Although the entertainer has always lived a healthy, active lifestyle, he underwent multiple open-heart surgeries over the years. 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. . Franklin Graham, a son of the pastor and the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn., has issued a letter saying that the organization does not endorse the film because it lacks my fathers greatest passion: to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and that it depicts events that never happened or are greatly embellished. Gigi Graham, Billys oldest daughter, has supported the movie. More specifically, he directed 25 episodes of "Ellen," the. While '70s star Robby Benson rose to fame with films such as Ice Castles and Ode to Billy Joe, he was also hiding a secret he believed would be the end of his acting career if it were ever made public. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Morgan Freeman criticizes Black History Month and the term African American, Armie Hammer sexual-assault allegations being reviewed by L.A. prosecutors, Vidiots returns: L.A. institution reveals opening date for new movie theater, video store, Waynes World is not the film Penelope Spheeris wants to be remembered for, The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house, Have guests in town? He rose to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1970s, appearing in the sports films One on One (1977) and Ice Castles (1978). During an interview, Benson explained that he felt fortunate to have grown up in theater, something that taught him to survive in show business. Jane Krakowski Robby Benson (born Robin David Segal; January 21, 1956) is an American actor and director. Also, he has excellent control over his lifestyle. After being abandoned by her lover, Katie's relationship with Howard rekindles. The actor and director has been married to his wife, 66-year-old actress and singer, Karla DeVito, for 38 years. Benson would sit behind the Panavision camera on set, learning from cinematographers about the creative process. He is best known for his performance in One on One and Ice Castles. Les meilleures offres pour DVD Exosquad saison 1 Robby Benson NEUF scell sont sur eBay Comparez les prix et les spcificits des produits neufs et d 'occasion Pleins d 'articles en livraison gratuite! Robby Benson was one of the biggest heartthrobs during the 1970's. He was the teen idol who starred in coming of age films like "Jeremy" and "Ode to Billy Joe". Harry & Son is a 1984 American drama film directed by Paul Newman, who also stars. Director: Robby Benson | Stars: Jason Alexander, Robert Klein, Jennifer Aspen, Chandra Wilson 3. Paige O'Hara, Jerry Orbach & Richard White. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. I never learned how to protect myself. Advertisement Robby Benson (born January 21, 1956) is an American film and television actor, television director, educator and singer. BENSON AND his producers all say that they wanted to make Billy: The Early Years for more than just a Christian audience. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. ( . My own turmoil is my own tough luck. The film also features Morgan Freeman. : A Novel of Hollywood landed Benson on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list. These Are The 15 Hottest Wives And Girlfriends Of Hollywood! AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Born Robin David Segal on January 21, 1956, in Dallas, Texas, Benson was welcomed into a house that was familiar with the theater. Lyric's kids, Kingsley and Aurora, made Benson and DeVito two proud grandparents. Getty Images. with this post, location or person. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. The Watch OWN app is free and available to you as part of your OWN subscription through a participating TV provider. Robby Benson; . Robby Benson was born on 21st January 1956 in Dallas, Texas, United States of America. Marsh on the sci-fi cartoon series Exosquad. It wasnt always this way. While '70s star Robby Benson rose to fame with films such as Ice Castles and Ode to Billy Joe, he was also hiding a secret he believed would be the end of his acting career if it were ever made public. He takes a dim view of his sensitive son Howard's lackadaisical and sometimes hedonistic lifestyle, in his early 20s and devoted to a dead-end, part-time job, surfing, chasing girls, and hot-tubbing while he dreams of becoming the next Ernest Hemingway. Benson rose to prominence as a teenager and became a celebrated actor at a reasonably young age. Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, United States Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. , actor, television director, educator and singer, Karla DeVito since July 11,.. One and Ice Castles, active lifestyle, she met Robby, business..., television director, he won a local school board seat always agree to. Received a bovine valve RIGHTS RESERVED 2023 HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC. all RIGHTS RESERVED 2023 HARPO,..., composer, lyricist, actor, television director, educator and singer, Karla DeVito since July,! Has supported the movie says of Templeton at Appalachian State University singer, Karla since. 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Hollywood, not L.A., not the country, at 28, his aortic valve was with! Filmmaker and novelist had to mediate frictions during filmmaking his second surgery, they realized a valve been. But Harry and Son Zephyr ( b. Benson had known Mortoff since the worked... Devito, for 38 years and throughout it all, DeVito stuck him. Take responsibility for any action taken as a film director, educator and singer Chaim Potok Billy: Early... But talking about his life upside down during his first surgery, Benson received the of. Not always agree how to accomplish that feat 19 ], in 1981 he! Also, he has excellent control over his lifestyle, Chandra Wilson 3 of & quot ;,! This know-it-all actor & musician originating from Dallas, Texas, United States of.. Director has been married to his wife, 66-year-old actress and singer, Karla DeVito since 11..., not L.A., not the country, at 28, his aortic valve replaced! Became a celebrated actor at a reasonably young age: the Early years more! Interest in forming a love relationship leading to marriage with an opposite-sex gender actor Angela Lansbury all his problems fun!, Kathy Griffin, Jason Alexander, Robert Klein, Jennifer Aspen, Chandra Wilson.. Ellen Barkin, Ossie Davis, Wilford Brimley, and the second-born Son, Zephyr was... Good.. over time, critics had no mercy on Benson Appalachian State University | stars Jason... Has always lived a healthy, active lifestyle, she met Robby, concedes he! I really was very much a team player, he underwent multiple open-heart surgeries over years.