Beast (Disney character)
| Beast | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Beauty and the Beast (1991) |
| Created by | Linda Woolverton (film adaptation) |
| Based on | The Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve |
| Voiced by | Robby Benson (1991 film and related project) Dan Stevens (2017 film; voice and motion capture) |
| Portrayed by |
|
| Full name | Prince Adam (merchandise and other select instances only) |
| Title | Master of the Castle |
| Occupation | Prince |
| Spouse | Belle |
| Children | Prince Ben (son; in Descendants only) |
| Relatives | Maurice (father-in-law) |
| Nationality | French |
The Beast is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991), as well as in the film's two direct-to-video followups Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas and Belle's Magical World. Based on the character from the French fairy tale, the Beast was created by screenwriter Linda Woolverton and animated by Glen Keane.
A pampered but dangerously grouchy prince transformed into a hideous beast as punishment for his cold-hearted and selfish ways, the Beast must, in order to return to his former self, earn the love of a beautiful young woman named Belle whom he imprisons in his castle. All this must be done before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose on his twenty-first birthday. In all animated film appearances, the Beast is voiced by American actor Robby Benson. The 1991 animated film was adapted into a Broadway musical in 1994, with the role being originated by American actor Terrence Mann. Dan Stevens portrays a live-action version of the character in the 2017 adaptation of the 1991 film.