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| Jodi Benson | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jodi Benson |
| Birth date | 1961-10-10 |
| Birth place | Rockford, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, singer, voice actress |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Ray Benson (m. 1984) |
Jodi Benson
Jodi Benson is an American actress and singer best known for originating the voice of Ariel in Disney's animated feature The Little Mermaid. Her work spans animation, Broadway, television, and concert stages, and she has performed with institutions such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and touring companies for productions associated with Walt Disney Pictures. Benson’s career intersects with collaborators from Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and creative teams behind franchises like Disney Princess and Kingdom Hearts.
Born in Rockford, Illinois and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Benson studied music in a region with theaters like the Heinz Hall and institutions such as the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. She trained at vocal programs influenced by pedagogues connected to conservatories such as the Curtis Institute of Music and regional companies like Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Early exposure to productions at venues including the Byham Theater and touring Broadway shows featuring artists from companies like The Muny shaped her developing performance skills. Benson moved to Florida during adolescence, where she participated in ensembles associated with theme parks operated by corporations such as Walt Disney World and educational programs linked to performing arts centers including Brevard Music Festival.
Benson’s professional career began in musical theater and television roles that connected her to networks like ABC and production companies such as Disney Television Animation. Early stage credits placed her alongside performers from touring productions of works by composers like Stephen Sondheim and lyricists from the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon. Her breakthrough came when she was cast by the creative team of The Little Mermaid produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and overseen by executives who would later shape the Disney Renaissance. Following that, she contributed vocals to projects affiliated with record labels such as Walt Disney Records and collaborated with arrangers and conductors from orchestras including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
Benson is internationally recognized for voicing Ariel in The Little Mermaid and reprised the role in sequels, television series, and cross-media appearances tied to franchises like Kingdom Hearts and Disney Infinity. She has lent her voice to characters in animated series distributed by ABC, CBS, and streaming platforms run by companies such as Netflix and Disney+. Benson has worked with composers including Alan Menken and lyricists like Howard Ashman, and has provided voice work alongside actors from Robin Williams’s era, performers associated with The Simpsons, and voice directors who also worked on titles from Warner Bros. Animation. Her credits encompass guest roles in productions linked to studios such as DreamWorks Animation and voice cameos in films tied to the Disney Princess marketing initiatives.
Onstage, Benson has starred in musicals on Broadway and in national tours for works by composers like Jerry Herman and creators affiliated with Andrew Lloyd Webber. She performed in productions at venues such as Circle in the Square Theatre and regional houses including La Jolla Playhouse and Paper Mill Playhouse. Her Broadway appearances put her in casts alongside performers who have worked with directors like Susan Stroman and choreographers linked to the Tony Awards circuit. Benson also recorded for soundtrack albums issued by Walt Disney Records and appeared in filmed performances tied to televised specials produced for networks including PBS and Good Morning America.
Benson’s portrayal of Ariel earned her recognition from fan communities, industry organizations, and cultural institutions that celebrate animation and musical theater, including honors from conventions centered on Disney properties and lifetime achievement acknowledgments from entities supporting voice actors similar to the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences. She has been invited to perform at events hosted by orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and featured in retrospective programs organized by museums with collections related to animation history like the Walt Disney Family Museum. Professional acknowledgments include invitations to panels at festivals such as Annecy International Animated Film Festival and award ceremonies affiliated with guilds like the Animation Guild.
Benson is married to musician Ray Benson and has two children; she resides part-time in Los Angeles and maintains ties to communities in Florida where she lived earlier. Her family life has intersected with music industry circles, including connections to touring artists who perform at venues like Dolby Theatre and festivals such as South by Southwest. Benson participates in concert engagements and maintains relationships with collaborators from Broadway, film, and recording studios located in entertainment hubs such as New York City and Nashville, Tennessee.
Benson supports charitable activities centered on arts education and organizations that provide resources for young performers, partnering with nonprofits like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and arts advocacy groups similar to The Actors Fund. She has performed in benefit concerts for hospitals and institutions such as children’s medical centers affiliated with university systems like Johns Hopkins Medicine and has appeared at fundraisers organized by foundations that promote music therapy and youth theater programs connected to cultural centers including the Kennedy Center. Benson also advocates for archival preservation of animation, participating in initiatives with museums and foundations dedicated to film history such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Category:American actresses Category:American voice actors