Karla DeVito

Karla DeVito (born August 29, 1953) is an American singer and actress.

Early life and education
DeVito attended Willow Crest Grade School in Mokena, Illinois and Lincoln-Way High School in New Lenox, Illinois. She appeared in school plays and was the runner-up for Homecoming Queen. She attended Loyola University Chicago and majored in theater. During her freshman year, she joined the Chicago cast of Godspell. In 1971–72, Karla studied with Jo Forsberg at Second City Company in Chicago and was part of the Second City Children's Theatre group, with Bill Murray. In 1973, she was in the cast of the popular play Hair.

Career
DeVito toured with Meat Loaf's band in support of his album Bat Out of Hell. She is seen singing with Meat Loaf in the video clip of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "Bat Out of Hell", synced to the original vocal by Ellen Foley. She subsequently performed on Jim Steinman's only solo album, Bad for Good, on the track "Dance in My Pants" and its subsequent video. She also contributed background vocals for such groups as Blue Öyster Cult and the Sorrows. As a solo performer, she opened shows for Hall & Oates and Rick Springfield in the 1980s.

In 1981, DeVito released her debut solo album, Is This a Cool World or What? and played the lead role in The Pirates of Penzance on Broadway where she met future husband, Robby Benson.

DeVito's second album, Wake 'Em Up in Tokyo was released by A&M in 1986. Her song, "We Are Not Alone", was featured in the motion picture The Breakfast Club (1985). "Nobody Makes Me Crazy Like You Do", was recorded by Diana Ross on her album Swept Away. In 1989, DeVito performed in South Carolina and returned in 1990 as part of "An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber". In 1990, DeVito co-starred in the film Modern Love and sang on two of the songs for the soundtrack. In 2002, Karla sang the part of Elizabeth for the CD recording of Graham Russell's rock opera The Heart of the Rose which had a limited release on CD.

Personal life
DeVito married actor, director, singer, and teacher Robby Benson on July 11, 1982. The couple has two children, daughter Lyric Benson (1983) and son Zephyr Benson (1992).

Filmography

 * Two of a Kind (1982) - Barbra
 * Modern Love (1990) - Billie
 * The Legend of Prince Valiant (1992–1993) - Lady Megan, Elizabeth, Princess Sadisa (voice)
 * Family Album (1993) - Mrs. DeVito
 * Bonkers (1993) - Officer Miranda Wright (voice)
 * Phantom 2040 (1995) - Athena (voice)
 * O. Henry's Christmas (1996) - Della
 * Road Rovers (1996) - Woman Soldier (voice)
 * Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996) - Mary
 * Fired Up (1997) - Woman
 * The New Batman Adventures (1998) - Cassidy (voice)
 * Straight Outta Tompkins (2015) - Jane