A Dell ad featuring Ben Curtis

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 or Slacker Steve, is an American actor and former spokesman for Dell Computers. Curtis was prominently featured in the popular "Dell Dude" ads from 2000 to 2003. Image File history File links Steve_Dell_Ad. ... Image File history File links Steve_Dell_Ad. ... For the American golfer, see Ben Curtis Benjamin Curtis (born 1981), also known as the Dell Dude, was a spokesman for Dell Computers from 2000_2003. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... “Chattanooga” redirects here. ... Dell Inc. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early life and education

Curtis is the second of two children, and has an older sister named Polly Elise Curtis. He attended and graduated from the McCallie School, an all boys school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, after completing elementary school at Saint Nicholas School, also in Chattanooga. The McCallie School is an all-male college preparatory school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ... A single-sex school is a school that only accepts boys or girls exclusively. ... “Chattanooga” redirects here. ... Chattanooga is a city located in United States of America. ...

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 in and win 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. Magician redirects here. ... David Copperfield (born David Seth Kotkin) is a multi Emmy Award winning, American magician and illusionist best known for his combination of illusions and storytelling. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

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). New York University (NYU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university in New York City. ... Tisch School of the Arts (known more commonly as Tisch or TSOA) is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University (NYU). ... For other uses, see Amsterdam (disambiguation). ...

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 getting a Dell". The campaign was a huge success and not only helped bring prominence to Dell, but to Curtis as well. [1] A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ...

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. is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cannabis, also known as marijuana[1] or ganja,[2] is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa L. subsp. ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... Categories: Manhattan neighborhoods | Stub ...

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's record expunged if he stayed out of trouble for the next year. Despite the incident, Dell spokesman Venancio Figueroa maintained that Curtis' relationship with the company was "still in place." However, 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. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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." Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Palm Beach Founded 1925 Government  - Type Commission-Manager  - Mayor Steven L. Abrams Area  - City  29. ... GameZnFlix OTCBB: GZFX is an online DVD rental and online video game rental subscription service offering flat rate rental-by-mail to customers in the United States. ... New York University (NYU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university in New York City. ...

In February 2005, Curtis played the role of Christian, in an off-Broadway 16-show production of John Fisher's comedy Joy. [3] [4][5] The play and his performance both received generally favorable reviews. February 2005 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - → Pope John Paul II is taken to a hospital suffering from a serious case of influenza. ...

Curtis was featured on the companion DVD to Triumph the Insult Comic Dog's CD Come Poop With Me. On his segment, a visibly intoxicated Curtis confronted Subway spokesman Jared Fogle. Best of Triumph DVD (2004) Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog is a puppet created and performed by Robert Smigel premiering in 1993 on NBCs Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Come Poop With Me is a CD of adult-oriented comedy and songs released by Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog (also known as voice actor and puppeteer Robert Smigel) on the Warner Bros. ... Jared S. Fogle (born December 1, 1977 in Indianapolis, Indiana), also known as The Subway Guy, is a spokesman employed by Subway Restaurants in its television advertising campaign. ...

Ben is now working as a waiter at Tortilla Flats in NYC [6]

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