Selena Gomez isn't the only one who loves Benny Blanco like a love song, baby. Her Wizards of Waverly Place costar David Henrie thinks the music producer is a "super cool dude" after they recently had their "first sit-down hangout" together. "He orders great Italian food," David exclusively told E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi at the Los Angeles premiere of Only Murders in the Building 's fourth season on Aug.
22. "He ordered a ton of stuff." In fact, the 35-year-old said Benny—whose real name is Benjamin Levin —introduced him to polenta Bolognese.
"He called it adult baby food ‘cause that was the texture," David shared. "It was delicious!" (For more of David's interview, tune into E! News Monday, Aug. 26, at 11 p.
m.) The Disney star has been longtime friends with Selena, having played her onscreen brother during Wizards of Waverly Place 's initial four-season run from 2007 to 2012. Now that they're starring in its sequel series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place , David also got familiar with the singer's boyfriend on set.
As David noted to E! News , he's seen Benny "sitting right there in the front of the audience—watching, laughing." "You can hear his laugh on camera," the actor quipped. "He’s great!" And for David, seeing Selena at this stage of her life "means a lot to me.
" "I've been there for her for many years, and I know how much she's sacrificed and how hard that is," he shared, praising how the actress has handled her past personal struggles "with grace." D.