Paul Marcarelli

Paul Marcarelli
Born 24 May 1970
North Haven, Connecticut
Occupation Film, voice actor, screenwriter

Paul Marcarelli (born May 24, 1970) is an American actor best known as the "Test Man" or "The Verizon Guy" character in commercials ("Can you hear me now?") for Verizon Wireless. He appeared in all of his Verizon commercials wearing a gray Verizon jacket and his own horn-rimmed glasses until 2010.[1] In February 2011, he revived his role as the Verizon test man in a commercial advertising the release of the iPhone 4 for the Verizon Wireless network.

Early life and education

He is a native of North Haven, Connecticut, where he attended North Haven High School and received his B.A. in English from Fairfield University.[2]

Advertising career

In 2002, he started appearing as the "Test Man" character in Verizon Wireless commercials,[3] for which Entertainment Weekly named him one of most intriguing people of 2002.[4] Marcarelli had already appeared in numerous commercials for companies including Old Navy, Merrill Lynch, Dasani, and Heineken. He also performed in industrial and promotional films, and as a voiceover artist for Comedy Central, United Airlines and Aetna Insurance, among others.

Acting career

A founding member of New York's Mobius Group Productions, Marcarelli produced and performed in works by Eric Bogosian, Warren Leight, and Richard Nelson.[5] Mobius' production of The Adding Machine, in which he played the lead role, garnered the award for excellence in overall production from the New York International Fringe Festival in 2001; and his 2005 production, Bridezilla Strikes Back! starring Cynthia Silver, which The New York Times called "irresistible,"[6] won the Fringe's overall excellence award for outstanding solo show.

Marcarelli appeared on the October 12, 2009, episode of The Price Is Right during the showcase sponsored by Verizon Wireless. The signature white hard hats used in the commercials were worn by members of the studio audience.[7]

Marcarelli is also a founding member of the Table Ten Films production company.[3] He also co-wrote the storyline for the 2011 independent film The Green, for which he also wrote the screenplay.[8]

When he received word that his character would soon be retired from Verizon commercials, Marcarelli came out as gay.[5]

Personal life

He has a twin brother, Matthew, a decorated Captain at the New Haven Fire Department.

Marcarelli's contract with Verizon ended as of April 14, 2011.[9]

References

  1. Howard, Theresa (22 February 2004). ""Can You Hear Me Now?" a Hit". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  2. Fenster, Jordan (13 October 2011). "Guilford's Verizon guy makes film about being gay in Connecticut". New Haven Register. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harris, Elizabeth A. (18 April 2010). "He Tested the Market". The New York Times. p. RE2. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  4. "Scout Awards 2002". Entertainment Weekly. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Morgan, Spencer (13 April 2011). "Hear Me Now?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  6. Zinoman, Jason (16 August 2005). "Fringe Festival Reviews; 'Bridezilla Strikes Back!'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  7. October 12, 2009 Show Recap (Golden-Road.net) YouTube video of an audience member from that show; his hard hat from the Showcase is shown.
  8. Fine, Marshall (21 October 2011). "Interview: Creators talk about gay drama, The Green". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  9. Cina, Mark (14 April 2011). "Verizon Phases Out 'Can You Hear Me Now?' Guy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-10-22.

External links