Jae Benjamin

Jae Benjamin is an Actor, Producer and Comedian born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Mr. Benjamin started his journey in the entertainment business at 10 years old: acting, writing, staring in television commercials and performing in off-Broadway stages in New York and Philadelphia. You may remember Jae from the SpinMaster Toy commercials as the juggling boy who put DEVIL STICKS on the map; The famed juggling sticks which caught the attention & popularity of Grateful Dead and Phish fans tailgating in parking lots around the world in the mid 1990's and prior. When Jae was 22 years old he started working for Caroline's Comedy Club on Broadway in New York City as their doorman/show-barker and by age 23 Benjamin was doing stand-up comedy at Carolines. While working there, Benjamin helped create and produce the shows BLUE COLLAR COMEDY and INSIGHTFUL RIOT. Benjamin was also performing regularly in comedy clubs around the country and was taken under the wing of the late great comedian Robert Schimmel while writing and performing from time-to-time on, THE STERN SHOW when Howard Stern was at FM radio. Schimmel's influence on Benjamin was beyond immense. On stage, a real 'true teller', Benjamin's stories are true, his thoughts are real and Jae talks about his life and exactly as things happen/happened in and around it. Mr. Benjamin was at the time continually booking roles on television commercials, stages and feature films like: Table One (Martin Bregman) and Murder By Numbers with Sandra Bullock (Castle Rock Entertainment), along with a few series for Comedy Central (HACKS) and HBO. Jae spent most of his life and summers growing up in the NEW YORK CITY Television, Film and Theatre communities where to this day he still spends a good portion of his time while living between New York City and California where his main residence is. Benjamin has an MFA from the University of Connecticut and was trained in both method and film acting, focusing on: Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Meisner. Mr. Benjamin also attended The Actors Studio, TVI Institute and has been learning the crafts and business of acting, producing, film/television from top industry professionals, hands-on, while schooling and working as a young actor through to current days. CURRENTLY: Mr. Benjamin Co-Hosts, Co-Executive Produces and show-runs CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER'S https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147825/ new online event series, FanRoom Live ( www.fanroomlive.com ). Jae Benjamin is featured in director Kevin Asch's film, 'Affluenza' which came out in 2014, while also filming the part of Curtis Seth Davies in the feature film "The Butterfly Chasers aka "2050" and producing fellow actor and dear friend Taylor Negron's last film 'ALIENATED' which has received many accolades. Mr. Benjamin has been featured in Rose Troche's 'Elliot King is Third', stars with veteran actor John Savage in the new movie ALIEN ICE (complete and unreleased), 'Turf Club' with Burt Reynolds, 'SOULMATES' playing the role of music manager Larry Copely, National Lampoons 'LAST GUY ON EARTH' as Danny Keho, and has roles in several other new feature films and projects already filmed/in production or preproduction in 2019, 2020, 2021 as far out as 2026. Mr. Benjamin also co-created, co-wrote and is the Executive Producer for the upcoming movie, 'SUBWAY!' and has a few more films he wrote in the works headed to a streaming service on your television soon. Jae is also helping to produce several other new projects outside of his own, in particular a new film based on a true story co-written by Oscar Award Winner Julian Krainin (Quiz Show) about certain globally renown comedians. Mr. Benjamin has also been chosen to star in 2 new upcoming features from Bollywood- (ON HOLD DUE TO COVID19 PANDEMIC) Both are expected to further catapult Mr. Benjamin's acting career while showing his natural acting brilliance and degree/ranges of Benjamin's talents not yet seen globally in theaters/streaming channels by his fans. In the Fall of 2021 and the Summer of 2022 Jae will start production on several of the films he has principal roles in, acting along side some the worlds most renown A-listers. Previously, in May of 2013, George Wayne Contributing Editor for Vanity Fair Magazine placed Jae Benjamin on his list, THE TOP 100 MOST Fabulous + Inspiring + Relevant + Influential People WHO TODAY DEFINE NEW YORK CITY. Since 2013, Benjamin has been named a Top 100 star/celebrity by renown Celebrity scribe, George Wayne of Vanity Fair Magazine (5) times, most recently June 8, 2018. Jae Benjamin's self created and produced show BORN ON ANOTHER PLANET (#BOAP) was SOLD OUT at the world famous Don't Tell Mama in the heart of Broadway on Resturant row for several years. Born On Another Planet (#BOAP) has been on hiatus since recurring performer, film legend, comedian and close friend of Jae's, TAYLOR NEGRON, passed. Born On Another Planet (BOAP) is scheduled to return sometime in 2021/2022. ALONG WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE: Jae Benjamin has his hand in the music business and previously has represented his close friend Grammy Award winner, Ivor Novello Writing Award winner, MTV Award winner, bass player, singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, musical director and founding member of Jamiroquai: STUART ZENDER. Jae also has worked with, written and or co-produced such artists as: Simon Katz (Jamiroquai and GORILLAZ) Henry Butler, The Roots, Balal, Jennifer Hudson, Mark Ronson, Q-Tip, MNDR, D'Angelo, Slick Rick, Merl Saunders, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, RatDog, Primus, Keith Murray, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Paul Oakenfold, Brandy, Method Man and Red Man, Lana Del Ray, Jonathan Cain of Journey and daughter singer Madison Cain to say the least, along with several other world renown music artists. Benjamin also discovered a few that you'll soon know about. Through out the United States, Europe and Asia, Jae has the honor and privilege to work with some the most recognized and talented actors, comedians musicians and entertainers on the planet. JAE'S FAMILY: Mr. Benjamin comes from an amazing family lineage of entertainment and what some consider Hollywood elite. Surrounded by the best of best by both his parents, Jae's renown Uncles, Aunts and cousins include: Director Oscar nominated (Andrew Davis) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001112/ who directed and produced: The Fugitive (Oscar nominated) Chain Reaction, Collateral Damage, Holes, Under Siege and many others. Jae's cousin Shel also on his father's side of the family discovered such bands as: The Who and The Rolling Stones and others. On his mothers side, Jae is surrounded by basically all Emmy/Oscar winners. His Great Uncle was Sol Kaplan https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006148/ He was the top Hollywood Film composer/scorer and played Carnegie Hall when he was six years old. His wife (Benjamin's Great Aunt) is Frances Heflin https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006148/ (Emmy nominated) All My Children from age 6 until she died as an elder women. Her brother, Jae's cousin is Van Heflin (Oscar Winner) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001336/ . Also on Benjamin's mother's side of the family is Jae's (Great Aunt) Singer Kitty Kallen https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0435973/ . Kitty was signed to Warner Bros. dated/performed regular with Harry Belafonte and Dean Martin. Jae's Aunt Shirley birthed Costume Designer Michael Kaplan https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438325/ who has several Oscar/Emmy nominations. Jae's family also extends to actresses, Nora Heflin, Mady Kaplan "Project X", Director/Producer Jonathan Kaplan https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438279/ Responsible for ER, Law & Order, the movie The Accused which won Jodie Foster the Oscar, LOVE FIELD that Michelle Pfeiffer got the Academy Award nod for and more. Jonanthan's wife (Jae's Aunt) is Julie Selzer. Julie is an (Atrios Award Winner) and was a top Hollywood casting agent for over a decade. Note from Jae: "In June of 1985 I discovered my dream and in June of 2010 I became it. If you manifest & learn how to use your energy you can (do, be and have) anything you want. I'm walking proof. I am very lucky, blessed, grateful and appreciative l get to do what I do in this life. I am extremely passionate about what I do and enjoy the rare blessing of being in the film, comedy, music and entertainment businesses individually and as a whole. I love & appreciate all of you! Thanks for being a part of my dream!"