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Now in our eighth calendar year! PCR #400 (Vol. 8, No. 47) This edition is for the week of November 19--25, 2007.
AGE IS ONLY RELATIVE PASSING ON STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! HOW COME I'VE KNOWN THIS SINCE I WAS A KID? HAPPY 400!
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...? CHAPTER 34: ROBBY BENSON WHERE YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM: "ONE ON ONE," "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST." Before Zac Efron. Before Paul Walker. Before C. Thomas Howell. Before all of these and more there was Robby Benson. Benson first came to fame opposite Glynnis O'Connor (another possible "where are they" subject) in the 1973 television film, "Jeremy." It was also in this year that he would appear alongside another unknown actor in a classic "Reese's Peanut Butter Cup" commercial. And who was the actor who "got his peanut butter on Robby's chocolate?" John Travolta. Benson appeared in several other television movies, most notably "Death Be Not Proud," before making his feature film debut in "Lucky Lady." This film led to him being cast as the title character in "Ode to Billy Joe," again opposite Glynnis O'Connor. In 1977, he had his first hit with the basketball film "One on One," which he co-wrote with his father, Jerry Segal (Benson is is his mother's maiden name.). The success of "One on One" led to roles in "The End" and "Ice Castles." Benson took some heat after being cast as a Chicano gang member in "Walk Proud," though he did get good notices for singing (and co-writing) the film's theme song "Adios Yesterday." He followed this film with the comedy "Die Laughing," a movie that let him show his musical chops by casting him as a musician trying to win first prize in a recording contest. He then took a couple dramatic roles, first as Jack Lemmon's son in "Tribute," which he followed up by appearing opposite Barry Miller as two boys alike in faith but different in life in "The Chosen." In 1983, Benson again drew the ire of people by starring as American Indian Billy Mills in the film "Running Brave." A true story, "Running Brave" tracked the career of Mills, who went from a reservation to the University of Kansas to the Olympics, where he won the gold medal for the 10,000 meter race. The next year, he starred opposite Paul Newman in "Harry and Son," a film that was not well received. In 1982, he married Karla DeVito, an actress/musician he met while performing on Broadway in "The Pirates of Penzance." Meatloaf fans may recognize Karla as the woman opposite the big man in his "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" video. After a few years of minor projects, Benson returned to the top when he voiced the Beast in Walt Disney's animated classic, "Beauty and the Beast." He began doing more television, mostly animated series, where his voice could be heard on "Exosquad" and "Batman," among others. He has reprised the voice of the Beast on several video ventures as well as on Disney video games. He has also made a name for himself as a director in television and taught drama and film making at the college level. Benson currently lives with his family in North Carolina. television. Well, that's all for now. Have a great week and save some leftovers for me! See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2007 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2007 by Nolan B. Canova.
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