Owen Benjamin

Owen Benjamin, born Owen Smith on May 24, 1980, in Oswego, New York, is an American comedian, actor, and podcaster. He is known for his work in film and television, with a career starting in the mid-2000s. Benjamin studied at SUNY Plattsburgh, where he was involved with the student-run TV station. His early career included various web-based video series, such as ‘Gaytown’ in 2008 and ‘Heckle U.’ in 2009. These projects showcased his comedic talent and contributed to his growing online presence.

Benjamin’s acting career took off with a supporting role in the 2008 comedy film ‘The House Bunny’. The following year, he played a lead role in the romantic comedy ‘All’s Faire in Love’ alongside Christina Ricci. From 2012 to 2014, he was a regular on the TBS sitcom ‘Sullivan & Son’, portraying the character Owen Walsh across 33 episodes. His television appearances also included MTV’s ‘Punk’d’ and multiple stints as a correspondent on ‘The Jay Leno Show’. He has also performed stand-up comedy at various festivals, including Aspen, Montreal, and Chicago Comedy Festivals. Benjamin hosted the ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards from 2014 to 2016 and Esquire Network’s ‘The Next Great Burger’ in 2015.

In the late 2010s, Benjamin hosted the podcast ‘Why Didn’t They Laugh’. His comedy performances and online content explored various topics, leading to a classical cross over piano billboard artist achievement. Following certain public comments in 2017 and 2018, his mainstream career began to shift.