Owen Benjamin

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Owen Benjamin
Owen Benjamin Store Hollywood.jpg
Benjamin at The Store in Hollywood, CA
Birth name Owen Smith
Born (1980-05-24) May 24, 1980 (age 42)
Fulton, New York
Medium Stand-up, television, film, internet
Nationality American
Years active 2006 – present
Genres Improvisational comedy
Partner(s) Amy Reinke Smith
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 an American comedian, pianist, and actor from Fulton, New York.

Benjamin has continued a career in comedy after having been let go from CAA and Hollywood for his stance on transgender children and other issues. He currently produces a daily podcast from his farm in northern Idaho, and is co-founder of video platform Unauthorized.tv, news outlet The Beartaria Times, and The Great Bear Trail, a project to promote local agriculture and "eliminate dependencies and wasteful living."

Early life

Owen Benjamin was born Owen Smith to 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]

Career

Benjamin has a podcast, Why Didn't They Laugh, on Sideshow Network. He hosted Esquire Network's The Next Great Burger in 2015. He played a correspondent to Tyson Beckford and Rev Run on their show It's Not You It's Men (2016) on the OWN network.[3]

Benjamin produces the late show on Saturday Nights at The Improv in Hollywood, California, and has also performed on MTV's show Punk'd.[4] Benjamin has starred in several web-only video series. Since 2008 he has been appearing on Sony Pictures Television's C-SPOT and played the role of Owen on Gaytown as well as hosting his own series, Owen Benjamin Presents.[5][6]

In 2007, he 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.[7][8] In 2009, he played the lead role in the romantic comedy All's Faire in Love, co-starring with Christina Ricci.[7][8] He was on Comedy Central Presents in 2010. For three seasons (2012–14), Benjamin portrayed Owen Walsh on the TBS original comedy Sullivan & Son.[7]

In March 2009 Benjamin began playing the role of Chance Stevens on Heckle U for CBS Interactive.[9][10][11]

Benjamin hosted the annual ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards from 2014 to 2016.[12]

Benjamin appeared on Inside Amy Schumer in the episode "A Chick Who Can Hang."[13]

Benjamin was also a correspondent on The Jay Leno Show,[14] twice appearing on the program in a segment performing comical jingles for local Burbank businesses.[15][7]

Benjamin maintained a YouTube channel from February 2011 until it was deleted on 3 December 2019.[16][17] In response to his channel being demonetized by YouTube, Benjamin founded an alternative video-sharing service called Unauthorized.tv in collaboration with Vox Day, which went live on 16 March 2019.[18][19]

Personal life

In 2009, Benjamin was engaged to actress Christina Ricci after four months of dating.[20][21][22] The couple broke up in June 2009.[20]

Benjamin lives in Saranac Lake, New York.[23] He is married to Amy Reinke Smith, with whom he has a son, Charlie, born in July 2018.[24]

Influences and deplatforming

Benjamin has cited Adam Sandler and Vince Vaughn as being comedy influences.[25]

His comedy is influenced by his conservative[26] social and political views. He is opposed to political correctness and has been intentionally offensive to mock those who would police his speech.[23] He has also criticized Jews regarding their neuroticism,[27] their attitudes towards the Holocaust, and their political activities, including around policies relevant to Israel.[28]

As a result of his views, scheduled shows of his have been cancelled, he has been suspended from Twitter,[29] his YouTube channel has been demonetized, and two months worth of superchats and membership fees for the channel have been refunded.[30][31] Benjamin has used crowdfunded money to rent the venues for his shows.[26]

On 3 December 2019 Benjamin's YouTube channel was deleted, with YouTube alleging he had violated their Terms of Service but giving no details.[17]

Works

References

  1. ↑ Gibbons, Allison. "Oswego's comic son comes home". Retrieved 2009-08-23.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  2. ↑ "Owen Benjamin biodata". Hollywood California Improv. Retrieved 2008-10-02.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  3. ↑ ""It's Not You It's Men" Full Cast/Crew Credits". IMDb.com.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  4. ↑ "Owen Benjamin's tweet from February 9, 2018".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  5. ↑ "C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle". thecomicscomic. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2009-02-25.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  6. ↑ "C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle". thecomicscomic. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2009-02-25.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Oswego native Owen Benjamin to perform at Funny Bone in Syracuse". Oswego County News Now. 2016-08-21.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "EXCLUSIVE: Christina Ricci Is Engaged!". US Magazine. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 20 March 2009.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  9. ↑ Frommer, Dan. "Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today". Retrieved 2009-08-23.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  10. ↑ Hustvedt, Marc. "CBS, Owen Benjamin Get Ready to 'Heckle-U' at NCAA Tourney". Retrieved 2009-08-23.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  11. ↑ Frommer, Dan. "Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today". Retrieved 2009-08-23.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  12. ↑ "Comedian Owen Benjamin Returns As Host Of The Art Directors Guild 20th Annual Excellence In Production Design Awards". shootonline.com. 2015-11-12.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  13. ↑ Inside Amy Schumer on IMDb
  14. ↑ "Jay Leno adds to posse". Variety.com. 2009-09-08.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  15. ↑ "Bryan Meets Owen Benjamin". Retrieved 2009-11-27.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  16. ↑ Benjamin, Owen. "Owen Benjamin".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Owen Benjamin of America (3 December 2019). "Goodbye YouTube". Instagram. Retrieved 4 December 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  18. ↑ Benjamin, Owen (16 March 2019). "If you build it they will come". Retrieved 21 March 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "cite tweet".
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Casablanca, Ted (2009-06-04). "Christina Ricci Breaks Off Engagement—Did She Scream Then, Too?". E! Online.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  21. ↑ Christina Ricci is Engaged!, usmagazine.com, March 17, 2009.
  22. ↑ 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.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Local comic Day Bracey clashes online with alt-right comedian Owen Be…". 2018-04-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "cite tweet".
  25. ↑ Weiser, Sonia (2013-06-27). "The Laughspin Interview with Owen Benjamin". Laughspin.com.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Conservatives banished from comedy industry". The Washington Times. January 1, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  27. ↑ Benjamin, Owen (24 August 2018). "Owen Benjamin Explains Why Jews can be Annoying". Retrieved 21 March 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  28. ↑ Benjamin, Owen (13 March 2019). "Jew Debate! Owen 'Big Bear' Benjamin vs Andrew 'Don't Tase Me Bro' Meyer Discuss Jewish People". YouTube. Retrieved 21 March 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  29. ↑ "What Happened To Owen Benjamin Is Further Proof We Are Losing Our Min…". 2017-09-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  30. ↑ Benjamin, Owen (15 March 2019). "My Channel Has Been Demonetized". Retrieved 21 March 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  31. ↑ Benjamin, Owen (18 March 2019). "YouTube is psychotic". Retrieved 21 March 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

External links

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