Where Are They Now Pic of the Day -- Ben Curtis

The former "Dell Dude" is busy...

http://www.bencurtisentertainment.com/

You may know him best as “Steven” the former spokesperson for “Steven” from DELL Computer’s 2-year national ad campaign. However, to Ben Curtis, the son of a Tennessee preacher man, being in front of people and "waking the good news" has always come naturally. Hailing from the beautiful mountains of Chattanooga, Tennessee, life changed for Ben at age four when he met superstar illusionist, David Copperfield. While too shy to assist him back then, he was inspired by art in performance.

At age 13, Ben started his own magic business and began doing parties for all ages and all events as well as competing in national stage contests across the United States. Not one year later, Ben became co-founder and vice-president (and soon after, President) of a magicians’ society. After devoting more of his performance to art, theatre, and inspiring originality, he began winning those contests. He even spent three summers honing his art
at Tannen's Magic School in New York City. A week before he graduated, Ben created, produced, directed, and starred in his first full-scale illusion show at a local Tennessee theater combining his skills of music, acting, and magic, and mime.

Ben is currently a Senior at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. While at NYU, Ben has attended the Atlantic Theater Company as well as the techniques of Grotowski and Brecht at Tisch’s,Experimental Theater Wing (both in America and Amsterdam). However, his focus lies in the "method" work of Lee Strasberg’s Theatre Institute where Ben spent 3 years. Ben’s favorite performances include lead roles of ‘Vince’ in Sam Shepard's award-winning "Buried Child"; ‘Henry’ in Thorton Wilder’s “Skin of Our Teeth” as well as Al Pacino’s former role as ‘Murhpy’ in the Obie Award-Winning “Indian Wants the Bronx” (which he also produced in New York City and The Edinburgh International Fringe Festival).

Television Appearances include a Robert Smygle(“Triumph” the Insult Dog, ‘TV Funhouse,’ ‘Late Night’ with Conan O’Brien) performance at New York City’s famous Irving Plaza along side Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Conan O’Brien, and Jack Black. However, if you’re a fan of “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno you could have easily caught Ben’s interview with Jay along side actress, Rene Russo.

Ben has gone on to make guest-star appearances on MTV’s world renowned TRL with Carson Daily, Good Morning America, CNN Headline News, Fox News, Reuters, and he hosted the Sundance Film Festival 2002 online. Last year Ben starred in his first feature film, as a surveillance specialist in the psychological thriller “SPY: the movie” along side actors Vinny Pastore(SOPRANOS) and Frank Vincent(“Casino” and “Goodfellas”).SPY is expected to be released in film festivals world wide beginning June 2005 (www.spythemovie.com). For right now, Ben is auditioning for Broadway, feature films, and major network television. Ben most recently landed yet another lead role in the screenplay adaptation of the moving Vietnam story “Raccoon ” (www.alsoranfilms.com) alongside actor Jonathan Togo (CSI Miami and “Mystic River.”) “Raccoon” just made it’s world premiere at the infamous Aspen Short Film Festival and is sure to go the distance as a feature.

Look out for more of Ben in the theater and press (especially in New York City) as “JOY” is about to make it’s Off-Broadway debut this summer – the star cast including Ben Curtis!

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