Ben Curtis (actor)
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For the American golfer, see Ben Curtis (golfer)
Ben Curtis (born November 2, 1980), also known as the Dell Dude, was a spokesman for Dell Computers from 2000-2003. As part of a commercial advertising campaign, his character "Steven" 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.
On February 9, 2003, Curtis was arrested for attempting to buy a small bag of marijuana on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Since the bag contained a very small amount, the judge was lenient: the case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, meaning it would be dismissed and Curtis' record expunged if he stayed out of trouble for the next year, said a spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney's office at the time. [1] (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/delldude1.html) [2] (http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/02/10/dell.dude.arrest) [3] (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,78110,00.html)
In early 2003, the "Dude" ad campaign was dropped in favor of a new set of commercials about three Dell interns. While many claimed that Dell fired Curtis as a result of the arrest, it is more likely that the "Dude, you're getting a Dell" campaign had run its course, Curtis's celebrity was overshadowing the product, and the catchphrase had become stale. [4] (http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/delldude.asp)
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."
In February 2005, Curtis played a significant role in an off-Broadway 16 show production of John Fisher's comedy Joy. The play and his performance both received generally favorable reviews. He is also working on a movie.