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Jodi Benson (née Marzorati; born October 10, 1961) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for providing the voice of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), as well as in its , , and television series spin-off, along with many other Disney works. Benson is also known for her portrayal of Barbie in the second and third films of the Toy Story franchise (1999–2010), and in the Toy Story Toons short Hawaiian Vacation (2011).
Benson's other notable voice roles in Disney projects include Weebo in Flubber (1997), Belle (taking over for Paige O'Hara) in House of Mouse (2001–03), Lady (who was originally voiced by Barbara Luddy) in (2001) and Anita Radcliffe (originally voiced by Lisa Davis) in (2003); she also appeared as Sam in the live-action Disney film Enchanted (2007). Outside of Disney, Benson's film credits include Don Bluth's Thumbelina (1994), (2002), and (2004); on television, she voiced the character of Tula in Hanna-Barbera's The Pirates of Dark Water (1991–93), and Jane Doe and Patsy Smiles in Cartoon Network's Camp Lazlo (2005–08). In video games, Benson provided the voice of EVA in the Metal Gear series (2004–10).
For her contributions to Disney, Benson was named a Disney Legends in 2011.
In 1992, Benson received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Polly Baker in Crazy For You. She played the narrator in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1998.
In 2004, Benson voiced the character of EVA in the video game . Due to her association with children-oriented projects, she was advised by voice director Kris Zimmerman to adopt a pseudonym for the game; her credited name, "Suzetta Miñet", was coined by Zimmerman based on the name of Benson's pet dog during her childhood, Suzette Monet. For two decades after the game's release, Miñet's true identity was the subject of scrutiny and speculation among fans until Benson officially revealed her involvement during the promotion of the game's remake, , in November 2024.
In 2004–06, Benson contributed as the host and narrator of the children's Christian home video series called "Baby Faith", created by Integrity Media & FamilyTreeMedia.
In 2007, Benson played the secretary Sam in Disney's live-action/animated film, Enchanted. Benson also played the Queen in a one-night concert version of Rodgers & Hammersteins Cinderella at the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in May 2010.
Benson was at the 2012 SYTA conference singing her signature song "Part of Your World" on August 27, 2012.
Benson joined the "2013 Spring Pops" on May 14–15, 2013 as a guest soloist with the Boston Pops. She has been a frequent celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World, appearing most recently in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021.
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Benson can be heard on over a dozen recordings. Her animated TV series include the Emmy Award-winning Camp Lazlo for Cartoon Network, The Little Mermaid, Batman Beyond, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Wild Thornberrys, Barbie, , P. J. Sparkles, and the series Sofia the First for Disney.
On the concert stage, Benson has performed as a concert soloist with symphonies all over the world, including The Boston Pops, The Philly Pops (conductor: Peter Nero), The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (conductor: John Mauceri), The National Symphony (conductor: Marvin Hamlisch), Cleveland, Dallas, Tokyo, and the San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies. She starred in the Kennedy Center Honors for Ginger Rogers, and in Disney's Premiere in Central Park with Pocahontas, The Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Spectacular and Disney's 100 Years of Magic. Benson is the resident guest soloist for the Walt Disney Company/Disney Cruise Line and ambassador for feature animation.
On June 6, 2016, Benson performed the role of Ariel at the Hollywood Bowl's concert performance of The Little Mermaid. JODI BENSON TO REPRISE HER ROLE AS ARIEL IN ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE OF THE LITTLE MERMAID: LIVE IN CONCERT Oh My Disney, Retrieved June 8, 2016 She also made a special appearance in ABC's 2019 live musical spectacular The Little Mermaid Live! Benson was originally going to reprise her role as Sam in the 2022 film Disenchanted, but her scene was cut from the movie. She recently lent her voice to Ariel in the 2022 video game Disney Dreamlight Valley as well as singing as Ariel on various Disney Princess albums of the 2000s. From 1992 to 2011 she was the official voice of Barbie for Mattel and Pixar for projects such as Toy Story and Dance! Workout with Barbie, until the role was taken over by Kate Higgins starting with the series Life in the Dreamhouse.
In June 2023, Benson starred as Mama Rose in a concert production of Gypsy alongside her daughter Delany at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, Florida.
Gypsy🌹March 2023
Lots of love & thanks to our incredible family, friends, brilliant cast & creative team! I love you all❤️] Facebook, June 22, 2023 The two of them reprised their roles in a 2025 production at the OFC Creations Theatre Center in Rochester, New York. Jodi Benson To Star In GYPSY Alongside Daughter, Delaney Benson, at OFC Creations Theatre Center Broadway World, May 10, 2024 This Time, It's Part of Her World: See Jodi Benson Star in Rochester Gypsy Playbill, January 31, 2025 Benson portrayed Dolly Gallagher Levi in a concert production of Hello, Dolly! at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida from June 21-22, 2024. Jodi Benson to Star in Hello, Dolly! in 2024 Playbill, December 5, 2023
| 1989 | The Little Mermaid | Ariel Vanessa (voice) | A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. |
| 1992 | Dance! Workout with Barbie | Barbie (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 1994 | Thumbelina | Thumbelina (voice) | |
| 1995 | Mickey's Fun Songs: Beach Party at Walt Disney World | Ariel (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 1997 | Flubber | Weebo (voice) | |
| A Christmas Carol | Belle (voice) | ||
| 1998 | The Mighty Kong | Ann Darrow (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Barbie (voice) | |
| The Crippled Lamb | Abigail Laura Lamb Mary (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| 2000 | Ariel (voice) | ||
| Asenath (voice) | |||
| 2001 | Lady (voice) | ||
| 2002 | Jenna (voice) | ||
| Lenee (voice) | Television film | ||
| 2003 | Anita Radcliffe (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments | Leila Martha (voice) | ||
| 2004 | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | Lastelle's Mother (voice) | |
| Jenna (voice) | Direct-to-video | ||
| 2004-2006 | Baby Faith: God Made Me (video series) | Herself (narrator) | Integrity Publishing |
| 2007 | Enchanted | Sam | |
| 2008 | Ariel (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 | Barbie (voice) | |
| 2011 | The Little Engine That Could | Jillian (voice) | |
| 2012 | Secret of the Wings | Healing-Talent Fairy (voice) | |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Ariel (voice) | |
| 2023 | The Little Mermaid | Market Vendor | Cameo appearance |
| Once Upon a Studio | Ariel (voice) | Short film |
| 1991 | Hunter | Police officer | Episode: "Cries of Silence" |
| 1991-1993 | The Pirates of Dark Water | Tula (voice) | 21 episodes |
| 1992 | P. J. Sparkles | P.J. (voice) | Television special |
| 1992-1994 | The Little Mermaid | Princess Ariel (voice) | 31 episodes |
| 1995-1996 | Guideposts Junction | Herself | A six-park Christian video series for children |
| 1997 | Caroline in the City | Mother | Episode: "Caroline and the Egg" |
| 1998 | Pepper Ann | Amber O'Malley (voice) | Episode: "Green Eyed Monster" |
| 1998-1999 | Hercules | Helen of Troy (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | Mother Cheetah (voice) | Episode: "Cheetahs Never Prosper" |
| Batman Beyond | Aquagirl (voice) | Episode: "The Call" | |
| 2001-2003 | House of Mouse | Ariel Belle (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire | Choir Soloist | Episode: "Sleeping Lions" |
| 2003-2004 | Duck Dodgers | Captain Tortelli Princess Incense (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2004-2006 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Blue Fairy Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 2005-2008 | Camp Lazlo | Patsy Smiles Ms. Jane Doe Almondine (voice) | 21 episodes |
| 2011 | Toy Story Toons | Barbie (voice) | Episode: "Hawaiian Vacation" |
| 2013-2018 | Sofia the First | Ariel Queen Emmaline (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Star vs. the Forces of Evil | Singing Teacher (voice) | Episode: "St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses" |
| 2016 | Clarence | Diana (voice) | Episode: "The Tails of Mardrynia" |
| 2019 | The Little Mermaid Live! | Herself | |
| 2022-present | The Wingfeather Saga | Nia Igiby Wingfeather (voice) | Main role |
| 2022 | The Loud House | Tammy Gobblesworth (voice) | |
| 2023 | Princess Ariel (voice) | ||
| 2025 | Sweet Magnolias | Iris Maddox | Recurring role |
| 1997 | Disney's Animated Storybook | Princess Ariel | |
| 1998 | A Bug's Life | Atta | Replacing Julia Louis-Dreyfus |
| 1999 | Disney's Arcade Frenzy | Princess Ariel | |
| 2000 | Grandia II | Millenia Reena | |
| Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge | Nasira | ||
| 2002 | Kingdom Hearts | Princess Ariel | English American version |
| 2004 | EVA | English American version credited as "Suzetta Miñet" | |
| Mother | |||
| 2005 | Kingdom Hearts II | Princess Ariel | English American version |
| 2007 | |||
| 2010 | EVA | English American version Credited as "Suzetta Miñet" | |
| 2011 | Princess Ariel | ||
| 2012 | |||
| 2022 | Disney Dreamlight Valley | ||
| 2024 | Disney Speedstorm | ||
| EVA | English American version |
| 2003 | Mickey's PhilharMagic | Princess Ariel |
| 2011 |
| 1989 | ||
| 1990 | Sebastian from The Little Mermaid | |
| 1991 | Precious Moments: Timmy's Gift | Performed the song Starlight Theme |
| Jodi Benson Sings Songs From the Beginner's Bible I | ||
| 1992 | Jodi Benson Sings Songs From the Beginner's Bible II | |
| Crazy for You Cast Recording | ||
| 1993 | ||
| 1994 | Unsung Musicals | |
| 1995 | Songs of Guideposts Junction | |
| 1996 | Hollywood Christmas | Various artists |
| 2000 | ||
| 2004 | ||
| Disney Princess Music Hits | ||
| 2005 | Disney's Princess Christmas Album | |
| Disney Princess Tea Party | ||
| 2006 | Ultimate Disney Princess |
| 1992 ! scope="row" | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Musical | ||
| 2001 ! scope="row" | Annie Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production | ||
| 2011 ! scope="row" | Disney Legend Award | Animation Voice | ||
| 2011 ! scope="row" | EDA Female Focus Awards | Best Animated Female |
Benson experienced a religious conversion while dating actor/singer Ray Benson (not to be confused with frontman Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel). They got married in 1984, and eventually had two children, a son (born 1999) and a daughter (born 2001). An article originally published in 2013 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said the couple "live north of Atlanta, GA." In May 2024, Benson revealed to WXIA-TV in connection with her upcoming appearance at MomoCon in Atlanta that she lives in the Lake Lanier area.
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