Jodi Benson
Jodi Benson is blessed and honored to be the recipient of the prestigious Disney Legend Award and proud to serve The Walt Disney Company for the past 35 amazing years. Jodi has received worldwide recognition and critical acclaim as the beloved singing and speaking voice of Ariel in the Academy Award winning Walt Disney animated feature film, The Little Mermaid
as well as the bubbly voice of Tour Guide Barbie in Disney Pixar’s Toy Story II, winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture. Ms. Benson is thrilled to be a part of the Academy Award winning film, Toy Story 3 as the effervescent voice of Barbie for Disney/Pixar. This time- Barbie is back and in love with Ken (Michael Keaton)! She also gave life to the spirited Weebo in Disney’s live action Flubber co- starring the brilliant Robin Williams. Ms. Benson returns as Ariel with all of the Disney Princesses for the first time ever in Disney’s hit Wreck it Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet. For Warner Brothers, she created the title voice of Thumbelina, a Don Bluth animated feature with songs by Barry Manilow.
Jodi’s other film projects include The Little Mermaid III, The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea as Ariel, Lady and The Tramp II as Lady, 101 Dalmatians II as Anita, DreamWorks’s animated video Joseph: King of Dreams as his wife Asenath starring Ben Affleck, and in Balto II and III as Jenna for Universal Studios. She appears as Sam,(Patrick Dempsey’s Assistant) in Disney’s feature film Enchanted- as a real live person –with legs! Jodi was honored to introduce the Emmy nominated 30th Anniversary celebration “The Little Mermaid Live” ABC television special event.
Ms. Benson received a Tony Award and a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for creating the starring role of Polly Baker in the Tony Award winning Broadway Gershwin musical Crazy For You.
Other Broadway credits include: creating the starring role of Doria Hudson in the Howard Ashman/Marvin Hamlisch musical Smile, Betty Bursteter in Cy Coleman’s Welcome To The Club, and Virginia in Kenny Ortega’s Marilyn: An American Fable. Internationally, Ms. Benson has had the honor of sharing the stage with her husband Ray Benson in the European Premiere of Gershwin’s My One and Only, starring as Miss Edythe Herbert.
In Los Angeles, Ms. Benson starred in the critically acclaimed Reprise/UCLA production of Babes In Arms as Bunny, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific(Pasadena Civic), Flora the Red Menace(Pasadena Playhouse), Ado Annie in Oklahoma!(Dorothy Chandler Pavilion), Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady(Alex Theatre), and as Florence Vassey in Chess(Long Beach Civic Light Opera) for which she won the Drama-Logue Award for Best Actress.
Jodi can be heard on several recordings including Disney’s Songs From the Sea, Disney Classics, Splash Hits, The Little Mermaid soundtrack, and The Princess Collection; Varese Sarabande’s Unsung Musicals I and A Hollywood Christmas, EMI/Angel’s Crazy For You cast album, Warner Brothers’ Thumbelina soundtrack, and with EMI/Sparrow Records: Jodi Benson and the Beginners Bible I and II, Guideposts Junction-a six part video series and album. Her educational project for kids is a 6 part DVD series entitled Babyfaith from the creators of Baby Einstein.
Her animated television series include the Emmy Award winning Disney show “Sofia The First-The Floating Palace (Queen Emmaline & Ariel), Cartoon Network’s Emmy Award winning hit Camp Lazlo as the voices of Patsy Smiles, Jane Doe and Almondine, the Emmy Award winning The Little Mermaid, Pepper Ann, Pirates of Dark Water (Hanna-Barbera), P.J. Sparkles,
the Barbie primetime series as the voice of Barbie, Disney’s animated series Hercules as the ever “perky” Helen of Troy, Batman Beyond, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, The Wild Thornberry’s and many others.
On the concert stage, Ms. Benson starred in the World Premiere of “The Little Mermaid Live in Concert to Film” at The Hollywood Bowl to a sold out crowd of 18,000 fans per night for 3 concerts as well as sold out performances in Tokyo & Osaka with the brilliant Alan Menken. A truly once in a lifetime experience. She fulfilled her childhood dream by singing at Carnegie Hall with the illustrious New York Pops under the direction of Steven Reineke. Jodi had the honor of appearing as the guest soloist at the Kennedy Center Honors for Miss Ginger Rogers. She performed at The Hollywood Bowl with conductor John Mauceri on several occasions including Tributes to Rogers and Hammerstein, The Gershwin Brothers and Walt Disney: 75
Years of Music. Jodi has performed with symphonies all over the world including The Philly Pops (Conductor Peter Nero), The National Symphony (Conductor Marvin Hamlisch), Toronto, Cleveland, Dallas, Tokyo Philharmonic, San Francisco and Chicago. She has starred in Disney’s Premiere in Central Park with Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiere at the New Orleans Superdome, and The Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Spectacular, and Disney’s 100 Years of Magic. Jodi was thrilled to be a part of the christening ceremonies and inaugural cruises for 5 of our Disney cruise ships. Ms. Benson is honored to be the resident guest soloist for the Walt Disney Company/Disney Cruise Line, ambassador for feature animation and a member of the Disney family for all these wonderful years.
Ms.Benson is always so thrilled to narrate the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World & has joyfully participated for many years. It is truly one of her most favorite Disney experiences to be a part of and holds such a special place in her heart.
Jodi has a new book available “Part of My World” with behind the scenes inside stories which highlight the many amazing people along her journey. www.partofmyworldbook.com
Jodi is thrilled to share the stage once again with her daughter Delaney and she gives thanks and praise to God for her family, friends, for her loving husband of 38 years, Ray and her amazing children; son McKinley & “daughter in love” Mackenzie and daughter Delaney.
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Twitter: @thejodibenson