In the 1990′s Hugh Benjamin attended Playhouse West in North Hollywood for over 4.5 years where he studied Meisner technique in acting. His original teacher Robert Carnegie had made a huge impact on Hugh reading more books.
During time at Playhouse West, Rod Steiger came in to speak to all of the students of the advanced classes about his acting experience and during that time he recommended a book called “The Little Prince”. He shared stories and wisdom about his career.
Jeff Goldblum also brought in his manager who talked about treating acting like a business where he shared examples of things that you should so as an actor while trying to acquire more work in the industry. One thing many of the sudents who had been to Jeff Goldblum’s house had talked about was his incredible library.
Hugh Benjamin brushed against director George Sidney and his wife while working at the Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills, Ca. George recommended advice to Hugh as an actor and even offered to leave out Hollywood Reporters at his home for Hugh to pick up and read.
George Sidney recommended the book “What Makes Sammy Run” by Budd Schulberg. He also explained how important it was for him to be educated on the industry of Hollywood and what is going on. He explained to Hugh that knowing who is who and knowing who is doing what really makes a difference in getting work.
Christine Neubauer managed Hugh Benjamin a while back. Christine and Hugh became good friends as he would come and visit her frequently. Christine had Hugh come to the hospital as her brother because she did not believe what the doctors had told her about her health condition.
“She was a great person” Hugh Benjamin said. “We even traveled to an indian reservation during Easter and she introduced me to a medicine man as he told the story of what was happening and the history of their reservation”…
Since a young age Hugh Benjamin has been into dancing. It all started when he saw Michael Jackson do the moonwalk. He thought that was cool and so in 5th grade him and a friend used to practice breakdancing in his friends basement on cardboard.
He then went on to teach young children how to pop and do some moves in which he earned great money at Lower Moreland Middle School.
Hugh won several dance contests in Philadelphia, Pa such as in Club 2000 which was near franklin mills as well as Fizz which was in Valley Forge, PA. He frequented clubs such as Mardi Gras in Northeast Philadelphia, Pulsations Dance Club ( Media ), Electric Playground ( Philadelphia ), “Taylors Nightclub” in Cherry Hill, NJ where he was even filmed on a cable show that was ran on TV..
When Hugh Benjamin moved to Los Angeles he actually took class at Regina’s Dance Studio where he took classes from Oliver (dancer for Madonna) and Swoop (dancer for MC Hammer) he then went on to Moro Landis where he was even cast in commercial for the dance studio and he frequently took classes from James Adegoke Choreographer for Prince and Carmen Electra , and then regularly with Shane Sparks who is now at Millenium Dance Studios and who is a emmy nominated choreographer for so many pop stars.
During thos times while dancing and acting Hugh would spend his free time at the Roxbury and Bar 1 on Sunset where he would hang out with many of the casts of some popular shows during that time. When he was at Roxbury it was the good ole days. Hugh was I guess you could say impressed by the dance circle that formed at the Roxbury where everyone would throw down their moves and socialize. Tina Landon, Janet Jackson, Oliver, Swoop, James Adegoke, Bones, Shane Sparks, Animation, Flat Top, and many more participated in the Tuesday Night at Roxbury Club on Sunset. “The atmosphere and fun at that time was very memorable “says’ Hugh Benjamin .
Hugh also got involved in promoting night clubs. He actually promoted Pamela Anderson’s Club Sanctuary on Robertson Blvd. in Beverly Hills as well as a big party at Tempest for Mark Wahlberg ( Marky Mark )
Bayer Aspirin had Hugh Benjamin as a football player ordering Pizza in a shop in which he asks for toppings on the Pizza as the Pizza Chef prepares to make many pizzas. Perhaps “bayer aspirin” will help the Chef !!
Hugh Benjamin worked in a film called “Defying Gravity” that actually was shown in theatres and is in blockbuster. Director John Keitel was the director and there many shots at USC where John Keitel shot this film.
The project was fun for Hugh Benjamin and he got to relive his fraternity day’s from Pi Kappa Phi in this project.
Here is a scene with Hugh Benjamin and some of the main characters in “Defying Gravity”
Hugh Benjamin has taken up a new spectator sport of participating in an aerobics class as a spectator sport while he morphs into Captain Morgan for Captain Morgans Malt Liquor.
This spot was really a hard job as he was forced to stare at women and have an eternal smile on his face because he absolutely couldn’t believe his eyes and that he was actually getting paid for this type of a job ! Grey Worldwide Advertising was in charge of this commercial campaign of which has worked with a few other of their commercials !
After doing this spot he definitely felt like a CAPTAIN ! Watch Hugh Benjamin to the left with an eternal smile in the maroon sweatsuit as he morphs into Captain Morgan !!
Majandra Delfino does a scene with Hugh Benjamin in this episode “Crazy” for Roswell.
The scene was directed by James Whitmore Jr. and Hugh Benjamin really enjoyed working with a director of his caliber.
Hugh had originally met with the casting director from doing a reading at writer Shane Black’s mansion in which there was select group of actors whom would be invited over to reading with new materials. During that time Hugh Benjamin actually met Seth Green at Shane Black’s house and a few other well known industry people.
It’s not a new thing for Hugh Benjamin to get a little crazy and go camoflauge. This was a fun rolle especially because the day they shot the At & t Commercial is was cold. However from years of being in a fraternity at West Chester University in Pi Kappa Phi as well as being a US Marine things of this nature were fun !
Hugh Benjamin was sponsored into West Chester University by Mrs. Asplundh who he had the pleasure of meeting while painting a few of their homes with his own painting business during college. While at West Chester he participated in fraternity life, was actually a West Chester Cheerleader who did stunts such as “throw to hands” and also practiced and trained with the West Chester University Football team.
This commercial ran during the NFL superbowl and also were shown on the internet.
Los Angeles, California – He’s been to “Roswell” with the Dell Computer “Dude” and even found himself appearing in between snaps during the Super Bowl.
But one of the greatest roles played by Hugh Benjamin, son of former Lititz American Legion Post 56 Commander James H. Benjamin, helped police and the FBI capture a wanted fugitive.
Lititz Paper does a story on Hugh Benjamin