Ben Curtis (actor)
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- For other people named Ben Curtis, see Benjamin Curtis.
Benjamin Bowmar Curtis (born November 2, 1980 in Chattanooga, Tennessee), also known as the Dell Dude, is an American actor and former spokesman for Dell Computers. Curtis was prominently featured in the popular "Dell Dude" ads from 2000 to 2003.
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[edit] Early life and education
Curtis is the second of two children. He attended and graduated from the McCallie School, an all boys school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
At four years old, Curtis met illusionist David Copperfield. Inspired by Copperfield's performance, Curtis started his own magic business at the age of thirteen. Curtis went on to compete and win in a few national stage contests. Curtis later attended Tannen's Magic School in New York City. While at the school, Ben created, produced, directed, and starred in his first full-scale illusion show. The show consisted of his skills in music, acting, magic, and mime.
Curtis attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. While at NYU, Ben has attended the Atlantic Theater Company as well as studying the techniques of Grotowski and Brecht at Tisch’s, Experimental Theater Wing (both in America and Amsterdam).
The September 2002 issue of Boys' Life magazine described Curtis' experience in southern Manhattan on 9/11 and the assistance he gave to an injured civilian.
[edit] The Dell Dude
As part of a commercial advertising campaign, Curtis portrayed the character Steven. This advertising campaign popularized the phrase "Dude, you're getting a Dell." The commercials would usually feature chipper Steven informing prospective buyers of all the perks of owning a Dell. When the party was sold on the idea he would close with the catchphrase "Dude, you're gettin' a Dell!". The campaign was a huge success and not only helped bring prominence to Dell, but to Curtis as well. [1]
[edit] Arrest
On February 9, 2003, Curtis was caught attempting to buy a small bag of marijuana on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Curtis was arrested and charged with criminal possession of marijuana. Word of the arrest of the "Dell dude" spread quickly through the media.
Since the bag Curtis possessed contained a very small amount of marijuana, the judge in his case was lenient. The case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, meaning it would be dismissed and Curtis' record expunged if he stayed out of trouble for the next year. Despite the incident, Dell spokesman Venancio Figueroa maintained that Curtis' relationship with Dell was "still in place." Dell, Inc. fired Curtis as a result of his arrest due to company policy. It ended Curtis's relationship with them. [2] However, it is believed that Curtis was already in the process of being "phased-out" in favor of a new pitch for Dell. In early 2003, the "Dude" ad campaign was dropped in favor of a new set of commercials about three Dell interns.
[edit] Life after Dell
Curtis' career seems to have survived both the Dell campaign and the marijuana arrest incident. In the spring of 2004, Boca Raton, Florida-based AdSouth Partners hired Curtis to lead its marketing campaign for the launch of Gameznflix, an Internet video game and movie rental service. Regarding the marijuana incident, Curtis told an interviewer for the South Florida Business Journal, "I learned a lesson and that was the thing," said Curtis, then 23, and a senior at New York University. "I've been through that experience and I've come out of that a better person. I've learned what it means to be a role model and I have a second chance."
In February 2005, Curtis played a significant role, Christian, in an off-Broadway 16-show production of John Fisher's comedy Joy, formerly titled The Joy of Gay Sex. Curtis himself is not gay but does have an openly gay father. [3] [4][5] The play and his performance both received generally favorable reviews. He is also working on a movie.
In May 2006, Curtis had a minor role in a Lay's commercial which was widely aired in Europe.
[edit] External links
- Ben Curtis at the Internet Movie Database
- 'Dell Dude' released after marijuana arrest from CNN
- 'Hey Dude, It's Ben Curtis!' - A visit with one of the stars of Off-Broadway's JOY from Broadway World
- Boy's Life Article
- Did Curtis' career as a pitchman for Dell computers end because he was arrested for possession of marijuana? from Snopes
