Owen Benjamin

Owen Benjamin
Owen Benjamin at The Store in Hollywood, CA.
Comedian/ Actor
Birth name Owen Smith
Born (1980-05-24) May 24, 1980
Oswego, New York
Medium Stand-up, television, film, internet
Nationality American
Years active 2006 – present
Genres Improvisational comedy
Notable works and roles Saturday Nights The Improv
Punk'd
The Jay Leno Show
Gaytown
The House Bunny
Owen Benjamin Presents
Website Official website

Owen Benjamin (born May 24, 1980) is a comedian and actor from Oswego, New York, best known for his appearance on the popular Spike reality show Bar Rescue.

Early life

Owen Benjamin was born Owen Smith, son of John Kares Smith and Jean Troy-Smith, both professors at State University of New York at Oswego.[1] He attended college at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh where he got his start in television at the student run station Plattsburgh State Television.[2][3]

Career

Benjamin can currently be heard on his Why Didn't They Laugh podcast by Sideshow Network. WDTL is in the top sixty of iTunes podcasts (2015).

Benjamin played host on Esquire Network's The Next Great Burger which aired summer of 2015.

Benjamin can also be seen on Oprah Winfrey's network OWN as he played a correspondent to Tyson Beckford and Rev Run on their show It's Not You It's Men (2016).

Benjamin produces the late show on Saturday Nights at The Improv in Hollywood, California, and he has also performed on MTV's show Punk'd.[2][3] He has been on The Jay Leno Show having appeared twice in a segment performing comical jingles for local Burbank businesses.[4]

Benjamin has starred in several web-only video series. Since 2008 he has been appearing on Sony Pictures Television's C-SPOT, including the role of Owen on Gaytown as well as hosting his own series, Owen Benjamin Presents.[5] In March 2009 Benjamin began playing the role of Chance Stevens on Heckle U for CBS Interactive.[6][7]

In 2007 Benjamin made an appearance in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. The scene was deleted from the theatrical release, but can be found in the extended deleted scenes in the home video release. In 2008 Benjamin had a supporting role in The House Bunny.

In 2009, he played the leading role in the romantic comedy All's Faire in Love, costarring with Christina Ricci.

On July 19, 2012, Sullivan and Son premiered on TBS. Benjamin has a supporting role as Owen, Steve Sullivan's childhood friend. In the episode "Creepy Love Songs", Benjamin displayed his piano playing skill.

On Spike TV's Bar Rescue S3E10 episode "Meat Sauna", Benjamin made a special appearance as he helps the dying Stand Up Scottsdale comedy club be rescued into being reopened as a franchise of the Laugh Factory Comedy Club. He gave his expertise to the club to help it, as well as performing his comedy act for their re-opening under the new name.[8] [9][10]

Personal life

In 2009, Benjamin was engaged to actress Christina Ricci after four months of dating.[11][12][13] The couple broke up in June 2009.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Gibbons, Allison. "Oswego's comic son comes home". Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  2. 1 2 Gosek, Chris (April 13, 2008). "Oswego native strikes funny bone in H’wood". The Palladium-Times. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  3. 1 2 "Owen Benjamin Bio". Hollywood California Improv. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  4. ↑ "Bryan Meets Owen Benjamin". Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  5. ↑ "C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle". the comic's comic. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  6. ↑ Frommer, Dan. "Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today". Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  7. ↑ Hustvedt, Marc. "CBS, Owen Benjamin Get Ready to ‘Heckle-U’ at NCAA Tourney". Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  8. ↑ "Bar Bonus: Owen Benjamin's Comedy Club KO". Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  9. ↑ "S3E10 Meat Sauna Episode Stream". Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  10. ↑ Hustvedt, Marc. "'Bar Rescue' finale recap: You can't fix unfunny when it comes to comedy clubs". Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  11. 1 2 Casablanca, Ted (2009-06-04). "Christina Ricci Breaks Off Engagement—Did She Scream Then, Too?". E! Online.
  12. ↑ Christina Ricci is Engaged! US Weekly, March 17, 2009
  13. ↑ Everett, Christina (2009-06-04). "Christina Ricci calls off her engagement to 'All's Faire in Love' co-star Benjamin Owen". Daily News (New York). Retrieved 2009-08-24.

External links

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