The 67-year-old is a much-in-demand TV director, a professor of filmmaking at New York University, and a busy voiceover artist – he’s even narrated an episode of TikTok. He’s also a husband, father, and grandfather. Benson and Karla DeVito married on July 11, 1982, and have two children: daughter Lyric and son Zephyr. In the midst of his busy career, Benson maintains a healthy lifestyle through the practice of Transcendental Meditation.

The actor is also a philanthropist, having donated money to a number of charities and causes over the years. He’s also an advocate for mental health and is the founder of the PTSD Foundation of America.

Benson’s eldest daughter, Lyric, is an actress who has appeared in several films and television shows. Her latest role is in the Netflix series The Mandalorian.

As for younger daughter Zephyr, she has a starring role in the upcoming Disney Channel original movie Zoey 101.

Despite his teen heartthrob status, Benson was a smarter, more grounded actor than many of his peers. He branched out from his cute guy roles in movies like Ode to Billy Joe and Ice Castles, and even screen-tested for the lead in Star Wars before losing out to Mark Hamill.

As the ’90s rolled on, Benson began to focus more and more on directing. He helmed six episodes of Friends, among other projects. In addition to directing, he’s also written, produced, and composed music. He’s also an esteemed professor, having taught at prestigious universities such as NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and the University of Utah.