[citation needed] She performed at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, appearing in the Tennessee Williams play Orpheus Descending.

"[citation needed] Benson played a lady running a roadside "Snakerama" exhibit in Steven Spielberg's 1971 movie Duel, starring Dennis Weaver.

Benson even had the rare opportunity of enjoying a leading role in a feature film when she was cast as Aunt Martha, the nefarious proprietor of the sleazy King Edward Hotel in Paul Bartel's 1972 cult dark-comedy-horror-thriller Private Parts.

In Silver Streak (1976), Benson portrayed rancher Rita Babtree, who comes to Gene Wilder's rescue by ferrying him in her bi-plane to a small-town train station.

During the show's first season (1980–1981), Benson played Lilly Sinclair, the manager of the female-only hotel where two young men (Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari) dress as women to take advantage of the inexpensive rent.