Ben Stein
Benjamin Jeremy Stein (born November 25, 1944 in Washington, DC) is a conservative writer, speaker and social activist. Stein earned a law degree from Yale. Having been a speech writer and lawyer for former United States Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford as well as a publisher of conservative thought in newspapers, Stein unexpectedly turned up with a new career on television after getting his start in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off as the most boring high school teacher on the planet due to his monotone voice. Most of the scene was unscripted. In a sense Ben showed a key knowledge for understated humor.
Contents
TV
A man of considerable intellect, Stein starred in his own gameshow, Win Ben Stein's Money, which would culminate in Stein taking on the winning contestant in a ten-question round to see who could answer more of the questions correctly. Most of the time Stein would emerge victorious. Stein had a subtle form of comedy playing the mostly straight man to Jimmy Kimbell as the joking cohost.
Stein went on to host his own talk show Turn Ben Stein On.
Today Stein can still be seen on television with his "dry humor" such as in the "dry eyes" commercial.
Stein has never lost his conservative roots or his desire to engage in intelligent dialogue. He has appeared many times on Fox News discussing politics and finance. Ben Stein also writes his "Diary" in every issue of The American Spectator, and is a regular weekly contributor to the Business Section of the New York Times.
Intelligent Design
Stein co-wrote and appears as the narrator[1] in a movie (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed), released in the US in April 2008 which portrays "Big Science" as suppressing Intelligent design from being discussed and considered in academic settings.
Quotes
- "I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat."[2]
- "I'm a rebel to my core ... and happy to be in an uphill struggle, as long as the cause is right."[3]
- "Bueller... Bueller... Bueller..."[4]
Works
Voice-overs
- Dukeman
- Fairly Odd Parents
- Loony Toon
Movies
- The Mask
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off
- Expelled (due for release in April 2008)
Books
- Yes, You Can Become a Successful Income Investor!
- The Gift Of Peace: Guideposts on the Road to Serenity
- How to Ruin Your Life
- How to Ruin Your Love Life
- How to Ruin Your Financial Life
Articles
American Spectator:
- "Sharpton in the Morning"
- "Bush Much Greater"
- "The Lynching of the President"
- "Hypocrisy, Democrat Style"
- "How to Lose to Terrorists"
- "Why I Am a Republican"
- "Eretz Israel"
Yahoo! Finance:
CBS Sunday Morning Commentary:
New York Times
Further Readings
References
- ↑ IMDB listing for Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
- ↑ http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/benstein2.asp
- ↑ Intelligent Design foes no match for Stein in 'Expelled'
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2luAeK0Tuu8