JODI BENSON

'Jodi Benson' (born ''Jodi Marzorati'' on October 10, 1961) is an American voice actress and singer of Greek decent, best known for providing both the singing and the speaking voice of Disney's Princess Ariel in ''The Little Mermaid'' and its sequels. She was born in Rockford, Illinois, attended Millikin University, and currently lives in north Georgia with her husband Ray Benson (not the Ray Benson of band "Asleep At The Wheel"). Jodi has also performed in several Broadway Productions.
In 2002 and 2006, she reprised the role of Ariel in the English versions of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series.

Contents

Career

Filmography

Other

Discography

External links

Career

Benson seems incapable of escaping her ''Little Mermaid'' legacy. In the ''Guideposts Junction'' video series, one character jokingly asked if Jodi knew anything about mermaids. ''The Mighty Kong'' featured one scene in which the lead female character (whose voice she provided), swam through the water, her hair flowing about in an Ariel-like fashion. She even provided the voice for a character called ''Aquagirl'' in an episode of ''Batman Beyond''. Fortunately, Mrs. Benson seems to have no regrets about her ''Little Mermaid'' role. She says that she never gets tired of singing ''Part of Your World'', her trademark song from this movie.
Benson played Ariel again in the video game ''Kingdom Hearts''; she is also in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', playing Ariel yet again, this time singing in musicals.
Fittingly enough, Benson performs the song ''Disneyland'' on the ''Unsung Musicals'' compilation CD. This song was originally performed by her in the short-lived Broadway musical ''Smile'', long before she became affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.
Benson is also currently doing voice work in the Emmy nominated Cartoon Network animated series, ''Camp Lazlo'', as the characters Patsy Smiles, Scoutmistress Jane Doe, and Almondine the Owl.
Benson will play as Cloe in ''The Save-Ums'' in 2007.

Filmography

★ ''1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (voice)'' - Lastelle's Mother (2004 Disney Dub)

★ ''1988 P.J. Sparkles (voice)''- P.J. (1988 Mattel)

★ ''1989 The Little Mermaid (voice)'' - Princess Ariel, "Vanessa"

★ ''1991 Pirates of Dark Water TV Series (voice)'' - Tula

★ ''1991 Disney Sing Along Songs: Under the Sea (voice, archive footage)'' - Ariel

★ ''1992 The Little Mermaid TV Series (voice)'' - Ariel

★ ''1994 Disney Sing Along Songs: Circle of Life (voice, archive footage)'' - Ariel

★ ''1994 Thumbelina (voice)'' - Thumbelina

★ ''1996 Disney Sing Along Songs: Friend Like Me (voice, archive footage)'' - Ariel

★ ''1996 Guideposts Junction, a six-part Christian video series for children'' - Herself

★ ''1997 Flubber (voice)'' - Weebo

★ ''1997 A Christmas Carol (voice)'' - Belle

★ ''1998 The Mighty Kong (voice)'' - Ann Darrow

★ ''1998 (voice)'' - Helen of Troy

★ ''1999 Toy Story 2 (voice)'' - Tour Guide Barbie/Barbie on Backpack

★ ''1999 Wish Upon a Starfish (voice)'' - Ariel

★ ''1999 (voice)'' - Helen of Troy

★ ''2000 (voice)'' - Princess Ariel

★ ''2000 (voice)'' - Asenath

★ ''2000 Grandia II (voice)'' - Millenia/Reena

★ ''2001 House of Mouse TV Series (voice)'' - Ariel/Belle

★ ''2001 (voice)'' - Lady (Segment "Pidge")

★ ''2001 (voice)'' - Princess Ariel

★ ''2001 (voice)'' - Jenna

★ ''2001 The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy - The Blue Fairy

★ ''2002 (voice)'' - Lenee

★ ''2003 (voice)'' - Anita

★ ''2003 (voice)'' - Leila and Martha

★ ''2003 Mickey's PhilharMagic (voice) (uncredited)'' - Ariel

★ ''2004 (voice)'' - Jenna

★ ''2005 The Buzz on Maggie (voice)'' -Laura

★ ''2005 Camp Lazlo (voice)'' - Patsy Smiles, Ms. Jane Doe

★ ''2006 Kingdom Hearts II (voice)'' - Princess Ariel

★ ''2007 The Save-Ums (voice)'' - Cloe

★ ''2008 The Little Mermaid III (voice)'' - Princess Ariel

Other

★ ''1998 A Bug's Life (Videogame)'' - Atta

★ ''2002 Kingdom Hearts (video game)'' - Princess Ariel

★ ''2006 Kingdom Hearts II (video game)'' - Princess Ariel

Discography

★ ''1990 The Little Mermaid Soundtrack''

★ ''1991 Jodi Benson Sings Songs From the Beginner's Bible I''

★ ''1992 Jodi Benson Sings Songs From the Beginner's Bible II''

★ ''1992 The Little Mermaid: Splash hits''

★ ''1992 Crazy For You Cast Recording''

★ ''1993 The Little Mermaid: Songs from the Sea''

★ ''1994 Unsung Musicals''

★ ''1994 Thumbelina Soundtrack ''

★ ''1995 Songs of Guideposts Junction''

★ ''1996 Hollywood Christmas'' (Various artists)

★ ''2000 The Little Mermaid II Soundtrack''

★ ''2004 Disney Princess Music Hits''

★ ''2005 Disney Princess Christmas Of Enchantment''

★ ''2005 Disney Princess Tea Party ''

External links

★

★

★

★

★ Performance ''Working in the Theatre'' seminar video at American Theatre Wing.org, April 1992