Robby Benson Biography

When 13-year-old Robby Benson appeared with "Josephine the Plumber" (Jane Withers) in a well-circulated TV commercial of the late 1960s, he was already a ten-year veteran of show business. The son of a writer and a stage actress, Benson went from the straw-hat theater circuit to the leading role of Oliver in a 1964 Japanese touring production. At fourteen he made his Broadway debut, and at that same time became the first of five actors to play the role of Bruce Carson on the TV daytime drama Search for Tomorrow. In films from 1972, Benson specialized in playing sensitive teenagers with severe emotional and/or physical problems. He also was frequently co-starred in romantic roles with young actress Glynnis O'Connor, notably in the 1973 film Jeremy and the 1977 TV production of Our Town. While his early theatrical films were generally okay, Benson was better served in made-for-TV movies: he was excellent as the dying son of author John Gunther in Death Be Not Proud (1975) and as George Burns' mentally retarded grandson in Two of a Kind (83). Benson endured an awkward period in the 1980s when, except for such career highlights as The Chosen (1981), he seemed to be pulling out the same bag of acting tricks in role after role. An effort to establish himself as a producer resulted in the unsuccessful Die Laughing (1979). He backed away from show business in 1984 when he underwent delicate open-heart surgery; the ordeal seemed to strengthen his resolve to broaden his performing skills. He starred as a tough Chicago cop in a brief TV series Tough Cookies (1986), and in 1988 directed his first film, Crack in the Mirror. Benson's most successful film project of recent years was one in which his face was never seen: as the growling, deep-voiced Beast in the Disney cartoon feature Beauty and the Beast (though touted in some articles as his voiceover debut, Benson had actually been dubbing TV cartoons for several years, notably the 1991 series Pirates of Dark Water). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

• 1. Beast: I've never felt this way about anyone... I want to do something for her! But what?
  2. Cogsworth/Narrator: Oh there's the usual, [counting off on hand] flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep...
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Lauren M (5 months ago)

• 1. Belle: By the way, thank you, for saving my life.
  2. Beast: You're welcome.
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Nhia T (5 months ago)

• 1. Beast: [roars loudly] That hurts!
  2. Belle: If you'd hold still it wouldn't hurt as much!
  3. Beast: If you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened.
  4. Belle: If you hadn't frightened me I wouldn't have run away.
  5. Beast: [hesitates a bit] Well, you shouldn't have been in the west wing.
  6. Belle: Well you should learn to control your temper!
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Nhia T (5 months ago)

• 1. Beast: You.. you came back
  2. Belle: Of course I came back. I couldn't let them.. oh, this is all my fault if only I'd gotten here sooner.
  3. Beast: Maybe... it's better - it's better this way.
  4. Belle: Don't talk like that. You'll be all right. We're together now. Everything's going to be fine, you'll see.
  5. Beast: At-at least... I got to see you... one last time.
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Sara B (5 months ago)

• 1. Beast: If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Diego T (7 months ago)

• 1. Beast: You can't stay there forever!
  2. Belle: Yes, I can!
  3. Beast: Fine! Then go ahead and STARVE!
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Diego T (7 months ago)

• 1. Cogsworth/Narrator: Please, attempt to be a gentleman.
  2. Beast: But she's being so difficult!
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Diego T (7 months ago)

• 1. Beast: I'll show you to your room.
  2. Belle: My room? But I thought...
  3. Beast: You wanna stay in the dungeon?
  4. Belle: No.
  5. Beast: Then follow me.
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Diego T (7 months ago)

• 1. Beast: I'm just fooling myself, she'll never see me as anything... but a monster.
  From Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Doug N (13 months ago)