Biography
Benito Skinner is an American comedian and actor who is recognized for his online alias Benny Drama, where he performs celebrity impressions, sketches, and original characters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Age
He is 30 years old as of 3 November 2023. He was born in 1993 in Boise, Idaho, United States.
Family – Education
Skinner was born and reared in Boise, Idaho, and went to Bishop Kelly High School. Skinner started the nonprofit OATHS (Organization Assisting the Homeless Student) as a senior in high school and was recognized at the 2011 National Philanthropy Day Idaho. He later attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he studied acting, English, film, and media studies.
Boyfriend
In his final year of college, Skinner came out as gay. He resides in Los Angeles, California, with director Terrence O’Connor, his lover. They are well-known for their intricate and well-planned yearly Halloween costumes for couples.
Net Worth
He has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
First Time Female Director
He appeared as Rudy in the 2023 American film First Time Female Director. In July 2022, it was revealed that Chelsea Peretti would make her feature directorial debut with the film First Time Female Director, as well as star, write, and produce alongside Amy Poehler, Kate Arend, Jordan Grief for Paper Kite Productions, and Deanna Barillari. The production companies participating are Paper Kite Productions, MarVista Entertainment, and Fox Entertainment. In July 2022, principal photography on the film wrapped in Los Angeles, California.
Ziwe
She appeared as a guest on Ziwe, an American satirical late-night talk show hosted and executive produced by comedian Ziwe Fumudoh from New York City. On May 9, 2021, the show premiered on Showtime. Showtime terminated the series in April 2023, after two seasons. In October 2020, it was revealed that Ziwe Fumudoh would star and executive produce a late-night talk show and variety series for Showtime, which was produced by A24. The series was taped during 15 days in February 2021. Nicholas Britell composed the series’ theme song. Showtime decided to extend the show for a second season in June 2021. Based on 11 reviews, the series has a 73% approval rating and an average rating of 6.00/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The series has received “generally favorable reviews” on Metacritic, where it is rated 69 out of 100 by 8 critics.
Queer as Folk
She appeared as Jack Cole Jordan in the drama television series Queer as Folk. The series is set in New Orleans and follows a varied group of friends whose lives are affected after a shooting at the Babylon, an LGBT nightclub. The group suffers with vulnerability, addiction, sorrow, and interpersonal relationships.
Podcast – Career
His early comedic influences included Robin Williams in his performance as Mrs. Doubtfire and SpongeBob SquarePants. While he would sing Britney Spears and Destiny’s Child songs for his family, he has spoken about suppressing some of his early tendencies for performance and comedy in response to bullying and homophobic remarks. Skinner was also the co-creator and host of BEAT$, a weekly campus radio show recognized for its pop music.
After graduation, Skinner worked as a video editor while also creating web material. Skinner made his social media accounts public in 2016, and his early efforts led to comedy videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. He is well-known for both his unique characters, including Jenni the Hairdresser, and his impersonations of famous people, like Shawn Mendes, Lana Del Rey, and Kourtney Kardashian. He claims that pop culture is the core inspiration for all of his work.
In 2018, he opened for the New York Comedy Festival to a sold-out crowd at Carolines on Broadway with his debut show, “Overcompensating.” For one season and fifty episodes, he served as the host of the pop culture podcast Obsessed with Mary Beth Barone on Spotify. In 2023, Skinner and Barone started a brand-new pop culture podcast called Ride. Skinner acted in the first feature film directed by first-time female filmmaker Chelsea Peretti in 2024.
Movies and TV Shows
♦ 2024 – Curb Your Enthusiasm
♦ 2023 – First Time Female Director
♦ 2022 – Queer as Folk
♦ 2022 – The Kardashians
♦ 2021–22 – Ziwe
♦ 2021 – Search Party
♦ 2019 – Hitbox