Really only liked him in ONE ON ONE

ONE ON ONE (1977) was a sleeper hit. It was a Hollywood studio produced film on a small budget with normal marketing effort. But someone's intuition and gamble in Hollywood paid off. ONE ON ONE became a huge hit. It appealed to everyone, literally. Romantic young women and macho guys appreciated the movie for different reasons. Of course I appreciated as the guys did. Here's a nice guy entering college who is bullied by a amoral, anal, a$$hole/jerk/creep basketball coach, brilliantly played by the late, underappreciated southern actor from another Hollywood hit, APOCALYPSE NOW. The young, naïve Henry Steele proves his b**** of steel and pushes back against the bullying, from the corrupt big-time college basketball coach, the complicit university administration, and his sweet, assistant teacher girlfriend's arrogant left-wing liberal college professor. Justice and good triumph over human corruption and greed, essentially the dark side of human nature. Henry Steele saves a basketball game at the last second, keeping his university's basketball winning streak unbroken. He's proven his worth, become a public hero, and won the heart of his beloved. It was a rare, feel-good Hollywood story that wasn't sappy or unbelievable. Everyone could watch the movie and draw some kind of personal inspiration from it.

Robby Benson would continue acting, drawing upon his huge ONE ON ONE success but he was never able to repeat, despite coming close in ICE CASTLES. His acting career slowed down as he aged but IMDB shows he found new acting work in Hollywood by reinventing himself, a smart move. No one stays young, handsome, and cute forever. I thought Benson looked too effeminate at the peak of his acting days but at least today he looks like a rugged guy. Unlike other people age first took away his toy-boy looks but as grew older, actually looks more handsome now.