Jodi Benson

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Jodi Benson is an American actress and singer, best known as the voice of Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. She was born Jodi Marzorati on October 10, 1961, in Rockford, Illinois, and grew up in a Catholic family. She studied at Boylan Catholic High School and Millikin University.

Career highlights:
- The Little Mermaid and beyond: Benson has voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989) and its sequels, TV series, and related projects. She also cameoed as a market vendor in the 2023 live-action The Little Mermaid and voices Ariel in Disney Dreamlight Valley (2022) and other recent Disney media.
- Other notable voice work: She provided Barbie’s voice in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3, Weebo in Flubber, and Belle for certain Disney projects. She has numerous other animation and video game roles, including EVA in Metal Gear Solid 3 (credited as Suzetta Miñet).
- Broadway and stage: Benson began on Broadway with Marilyn: An American Fable (1983) and Smile (1986, where she introduced the song “Disneyland”). She earned a Tony nomination for Crazy for You (1992). She later appeared in various stage productions, including Gypsy concerts with her daughter Delaney Benson (2023–2025).
- Recordings and performances: She has contributed to many Disney soundtracks and princess albums and has performed as a concert soloist with major symphonies around the world. She is a frequent narrator for Disney’s Candlelight Processional.

Awards and honors:
- Disney Legend (2011) for her work with Disney.

Personal life:
- Benson is married to musician Ray Benson since 1984, and they have two children. They live near Lake Lanier, in Georgia.

Recent activity:
- She has continued to perform on stage with family, appear in Disney projects, and lend her voice to new animated works and games, maintaining her status as a beloved figure in animation and Broadway alike.