Robby Benson Turns 67 — He Is ‘Alive’ Thanks to Wife of 40 Years Karla Who ‘Walked’ Him to Recovery

• Teen idol Robby Benson turns 67 today!

• He admitted that he is “alive” because of his wife of 40 years, Karla DeVito.

• The actor revealed how he survived harrowing health issues and a “sadistic” nurse, and how his wife stood with him on every step of the road.

Robby Benson, the famous teen idol, turns 67 today. The entertainer is known for his roles in numerous films, including “Ice Castles,” “The Chosen,” “Harry and Son,” and even “Beauty and the Beast” as the voice of the Beast, and he wrote the screenplay for “One on One.”

Benson rose to prominence as a teenager and became a celebrated actor at a reasonably young age. Throughout his career, he won two Golden Globes, and the actor broadened his skillset by expanding into producing and directing. Benson worked on various popular films and TV shows, with famous pieces such as “Friends” and “Sabrina” to his name.

However, one of the most significant projects in Benson’s life was most likely the Broadway production of “The Pirates of Penzance.” Although the show was a success, it holds more sentimental value for Benson, since this is where he met and fell in love with his wife, Karla DeVito, with whom he had two kids, a son, Zephyr Benson, and a daughter, Lyric Benson.

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.

At first, the two had a rocky start, with work interfering in their relationship frequently, but they stuck with each other and made it work. For their 40th anniversary, Benson posted a photo on Facebook with his wife and mentioned how “lucky” he is to have her beside him, especially considering all his health struggles.

Robby Benson’s Fight for His Life

If it wasn’t for his wife, Benson might not have made it through all the challenges he had faced in his life. Although the entertainer has always lived a healthy, active lifestyle, he underwent multiple open-heart surgeries over the years. During his first surgery, at 28, his aortic valve was replaced with a bovine valve.

By the time Benson’s third surgery happened, he knew something was wrong with his breathing.

Robby Benson and Karla DeVito at El Capitan Theatre on October 2, 2010 in Hollywood, CA | Source: Getty Images

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. So, he went in for another round of open-heart surgery. Unfortunately, this second surgery was botched, leading to more surgery between 1998 and 2010.

After his second surgery, he started having difficulty breathing as soon as he awoke. On top of this, his hands were inexplicably tied to the bed, and despite Karla‘s objections, the “sadistic” nurse wouldn’t untie him. Eventually, she freed his hands and removed his breathing tubes. Only then could he inform her that he was in terrible pain.

Robby Benson and Karla DeVito at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, 18th January 1992 | Source: Getty Images

Despite his horrible second surgery, he kept working on new projects and caring for his family. Throughout this time, he struggled with impaired breathing and knew something wasn’t right. Nonetheless, he forged on, knowing that his family relied on him to care for them. So, he started writing and produced two books and a musical.

How Did Karla Devito Save Robby Benson’s Life?

By the time Benson’s third surgery happened, he knew something was wrong with his breathing. He started having more worrying symptoms and spoke to his wife about it. Luckily, Karla was always supportive, and she was ready to listen and help him find a lasting solution. Benson commented about his wife:

“She helped me find doctors, she made sure I was getting the best treatment, the right medicine. I’m alive because of her.”

Eventually, he went in for what doctors thought was stenosis. However, during his third surgery, they realized a valve had been sown on incorrectly, leading to all his problems. Fortunately, the surgery went well, and things seemed to turn out all right. And throughout it all, DeVito stuck with him. Benson said:

“She has walked me through everything and has been my advocate. Without her, I don’t think I would have been able to make it.”

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. By then, he had, moved away from Los Angeles with his family, and taught at the Tisch Academy of Arts. His final surgery went excellently, and he said of his wife, “When we’re together, and we look into each other’s eyes, and we have one another, we can handle anything. Anything.”

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