Paul Marcarelli
Encyclopedia
Paul Marcarelli is an American
actor best known as the "Test Man" or "The Verizon Guy" character in commercials
("Can you hear me now?") for Verizon Wireless
. He appeared in all of his Verizon commercials wearing a gray Verizon jacket and his own horn-rimmed glasses
until 2010. In February 2011, he revived his role as the Verizon test man in a commercial advertising the release of the iPhone 4
for the Verizon Wireless network. He is a native of North Haven, Connecticut
.
He is a graduate from North Haven High School and received his B.A. in English from Fairfield University
.
In 2002 he started appearing as the "Test Man" character in Verizon Wireless commercials, for which Entertainment Weekly
named him one of most intriguing people of 2002. Marcarelli had already appeared in numerous commercials for companies including Old Navy
, Merrill Lynch
, Dasani
, and Heineken
. He also performed in industrial and promotional films
, and as a voiceover artist for Comedy Central
, United Airlines
and Aetna Insurance
, among others.
A founding member of New York's Mobius Group Productions, Marcarelli produced and performed in works by Eric Bogosian
, Warren Leight
, and Richard Nelson
. Mobius' production of The Adding Machine
, in which he played the lead role, garnered the award for excellence in overall production from the New York International Fringe Festival
in 2001; and his 2005 production, Bridezilla Strikes Back! starring Cynthia Silver, which The New York Times
called "irresistible," won the Fringe's overall excellence award for outstanding solo show.
Marcarelli appeared on the October 12, 2009 episode of The Price Is Right
during the showcase sponsored by Verizon Wireless. The signature white hard hats used in the commercials were worn by members of the studio audience.
Marcarelli is also a founding member of the Table Ten Films production company.
When he received word that his character would soon be retired from Verizon commercials, Marcarelli came out as gay
.
He has a twin brother, Matthew, a decorated Captain at the New Haven Fire Department.
Marcarelli's contract with Verizon has ended as of April 14, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor best known as the "Test Man" or "The Verizon Guy" character in commercials
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
("Can you hear me now?") for Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
. He appeared in all of his Verizon commercials wearing a gray Verizon jacket and his own horn-rimmed glasses
Horn-rimmed glasses
Horn-rimmed glasses are a type of eyeglasses. Originally made out of either horn or tortoise shell, for most of their history they have actually been constructed out of thick plastics designed to imitate those materials...
until 2010. In February 2011, he revived his role as the Verizon test man in a commercial advertising the release of the iPhone 4
IPhone 4
The iPhone 4 is a touchscreen slate smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is the fourth generation iPhone, and successor to the iPhone 3GS. It is particularly marketed for video calling , consumption of media such as books and periodicals, movies, music, and games, and for general web and e-mail...
for the Verizon Wireless network. He is a native of North Haven, Connecticut
North Haven, Connecticut
North Haven is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut on the outskirts of New Haven, Connecticut.North Haven is less than ten miles from downtown New Haven and Yale University. It is near Sleeping Giant State Park and home the Quinnipiac University School of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing,...
.
He is a graduate from North Haven High School and received his B.A. in English from Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
.
In 2002 he started appearing as the "Test Man" character in Verizon Wireless commercials, for which Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
named him one of most intriguing people of 2002. Marcarelli had already appeared in numerous commercials for companies including Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
, Dasani
Dasani
Dasani is a brand of bottled water from the Coca-Cola company, launched in 1999, after the success of Aquafina . It is one of many brands of Coca-Cola bottled water sold around the world....
, and Heineken
Heineken
Heineken is a Dutch beer which has been brewed by Heineken International since 1873. It is available in a 4.6% alcohol variety in countries such as Ireland. It is the flagship product of the Heineken company and is made of purified water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. In 1886 H...
. He also performed in industrial and promotional films
Sponsored film
Sponsored film, or ephemeral film, as defined by film archivist Rick Prelinger, is film made by a particular sponsor for a specific purpose other than as a work of art: the films were designed to serve a specific pragmatic purpose for a limited time...
, and as a voiceover artist for Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
and Aetna Insurance
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
, among others.
A founding member of New York's Mobius Group Productions, Marcarelli produced and performed in works by Eric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian is an American actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist of Armenian descent.-Personal life:Bogosian, an Armenian-American, was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, the son of Edwina, a hairdresser and instructor, and Henry Bogosian, an accountant. After graduating from Oberlin College,...
, Warren Leight
Warren Leight
Warren Leight is an American playwright, screenwriter, film director and television producer. He is best known for his work on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Lights Out and the showrunner for In Treatment and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit....
, and Richard Nelson
Richard Nelson
Richard Nelson may refer to:* Richard Nelson , anthropologist and writer* Richard Nelson , Episcopal bishop in America...
. Mobius' production of The Adding Machine
The Adding Machine
The Adding Machine is a 1923 play by Elmer Rice; it has been called "... a landmark of American Expressionism, reflecting the growing interest in this highly subjective and nonrealistic form of modern drama." The story focuses on Mr. Zero, an accountant at a large, faceless company. After 25 years...
, in which he played the lead role, garnered the award for excellence in overall production from the New York International Fringe Festival
New York International Fringe Festival
The New York International Fringe Festival, or FringeNYC, is a Fringe theater festival and one of the largest multi-arts events in North America. It takes place over the course of two weeks every August, spread across several neighborhoods in downtown Manhattan, notably the Lower East Side, the...
in 2001; and his 2005 production, Bridezilla Strikes Back! starring Cynthia Silver, which The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called "irresistible," won the Fringe's overall excellence award for outstanding solo show.
Marcarelli appeared on the October 12, 2009 episode of The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
during the showcase sponsored by Verizon Wireless. The signature white hard hats used in the commercials were worn by members of the studio audience.
Marcarelli is also a founding member of the Table Ten Films production company.
When he received word that his character would soon be retired from Verizon commercials, Marcarelli came out as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
.
He has a twin brother, Matthew, a decorated Captain at the New Haven Fire Department.
Marcarelli's contract with Verizon has ended as of April 14, 2011.