Brenda Khan
David Naughton is an American actor and singer, best known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness. In the mid-1970s, Naughton starred in a long-running Be a Pepper ad campaign for Dr Pepper, which included a 1988 Diet Dr Pepper spot. More recently, Justin Guarini, an American singer-songwriter and actor, has played the character of Diet Dr Pepper's Lil' Sweet in commercials since 2015.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Justin Guarini |
| Birth name | Justin Eldrin Bell |
| Date of birth | October 28, 1978 |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, actor |
| Dr Pepper character | Lil' Sweet |
| Dr Pepper ad campaign | Diet Dr Pepper |
| Dr Pepper ad concept | A woman looking for a low-calorie but sweet beverage |
| Previous appearances | Broadway production of The Lion King, American Idol |
| Other credits | The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Little Prince, The Pirates of Penzance, The Taming of the Shrew, Once on This Island |
| Family | Father: Eldrin Bell, former Chief of Police of Atlanta; Mother: Kathy Pepino Guarini, journalist |
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What You'll Learn
Justin Guarini is an American singer, songwriter and actor
Justin Guarini, born Justin Eldrin Bell, is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He rose to fame as the runner-up on the first season of "American Idol" in 2002. Guarini impressed the judges with his vocal talent, and Simon Cowell notably praised his performance during the audition, stating that Guarini had "a voice like yours". Following his success on "American Idol", Guarini signed with 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA. He released his self-titled debut album in June 2003, coinciding with the release of the film "From Justin to Kelly", in which he co-starred with Kelly Clarkson.
In addition to his singing career, Guarini has also pursued acting. He was born in Columbus, Georgia, and raised in Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His father, Eldrin Bell, is African-American and served as the former Chief of Police of Atlanta, while his mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini, is an Italian-American journalist. Guarini began his musical journey at a young age, joining the Atlanta Boy Choir at just four years old. He continued to pursue music after moving to Pennsylvania in 1985, joining the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir. Throughout his school years, he sang in choirs and played the piano, guitar, and banjo. He also took on lead roles in various theatre productions, including "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", "The Little Prince", and "The Pirates of Penzance".
Guarini's acting career has spanned both stage and screen. He made his Broadway debut in 2011, playing "Carlos" in "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and went on to perform in several other Broadway shows, including "American Idiot", "Rent", and "Chicago". In addition to his Broadway roles, Guarini has also appeared in various regional theatre productions, such as "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" in Atlanta and "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" at the Bucks County Playhouse. He has also ventured into screen acting, playing the character of Diet Dr Pepper's Lil' Sweet in the Dr Pepper commercial since 2015.
Aside from his acting and singing endeavours, Guarini is also a songwriter. After being dropped from RCA Records in December 2003, he independently released his second album, "Stranger Things Have Happened", through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd. The album featured reinvented jazz standards and received positive reviews from critics, who praised Guarini's vocal talent and the backing ensemble. Guarini's natural skills and agile voice shone through in this album, showcasing his ability not only as a singer but also as a songwriter and producer.
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Guarini was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol
Justin Guarini, the actor who portrays Diet Dr Pepper's Lil' Sweet, was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol. Guarini, born Justin Eldrin Bell, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was born in Columbus, Georgia, and raised primarily by his mother, a journalist, and stepfather, a physicist, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Guarini's musical experience began at age four when he joined the Atlanta Boy Choir. After moving to Pennsylvania, he continued to pursue music by joining the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir. In addition to singing, he also plays the piano, guitar, and banjo.
Guarini studied vocal performance and theater studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia before moving to New York City to attend the School for Film and Television. He successfully auditioned for American Idol in April 2002, and his performance impressed judge Simon Cowell, who praised his vocal talent. Guarini ultimately became the runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in September 2002. Following his appearance on the show, he signed with American Idol's 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA.
Prior to the American Idol tour, Guarini was the only contestant asked to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah Winfrey complimented his talent. Despite his success in the music industry, Guarini has also pursued acting. He has had roles in various theatre productions, including The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Little Prince, and The Taming of the Shrew. Guarini also had a role in the Broadway production of The Lion King, which was offered to him shortly after being chosen for American Idol.
In addition to his theatre credits, Guarini has appeared on screen. He starred in the film From Justin to Kelly, which was critically panned, and later took on a role in the 2004 pre-Broadway New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater workshop presentation of the musical Good Vibrations at Vassar College. His performance impressed producers, and he was offered the same role in the original Broadway production, which he ultimately declined. Guarini has also ventured into independent music production, releasing his second album, Stranger Things Have Happened, in 2005 through his company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.
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Guarini plays the piano, guitar, and banjo
Justin Guarini, who plays the fictional miniature musician Lil' Sweet in the Diet Dr Pepper commercials, is a multitalented American singer, songwriter, and actor. In addition to his musical prowess, Guarini plays the piano, guitar, and banjo. He began his musical journey at the age of four when he joined the Atlanta Boy Choir and later the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir after moving to Pennsylvania. Guarini's talent was recognised by Idol judge Simon Cowell, who praised his performance during the competition.
Guarini's guitar skills were showcased in his role in the 2004 pre-Broadway production of the musical "Good Vibrations" at Vassar College. His performance, which included singing, dancing, acting, and playing the guitar, impressed producers, who offered him the same role in the original Broadway production. However, Guarini declined the offer.
Born in Columbus, Georgia, Guarini is the son of former Atlanta Chief of Police Eldrin Bell and journalist Kathy Pepino Guarini. He was primarily raised by his mother and stepfather, physicist Jerry Guarini, in the Philadelphia suburb of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Guarini attended Central Bucks High School East and later studied vocal performance and theatre studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Throughout his career, Guarini has demonstrated his versatility as a performer. He rose to prominence as the runner-up on the first season of "American Idol" in 2002, showcasing his powerful vocals. Following his success on the show, Guarini signed with American Idol's 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA. He released his second album, "Stranger Things Have Happened," in 2005 through his own production company, showcasing his skills as a songwriter and producer.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Guarini has built a successful acting career. He has taken on various roles in Broadway productions, including "The Lion King," "American Idiot," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Wicked." Guarini has also lent his voice to comedic productions, such as playing George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," a live radio play in 2015. His talent and hard work have solidified his place in the entertainment industry.
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David Naughton is an American actor and singer
David Walsh Naughton, born on February 13, 1951, in West Hartford, Connecticut, is an American actor and singer. He is known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980). He is also known for his long-running "Be a Pepper" ad campaign for beverage maker Dr Pepper, which began in 1977 and ended in 1981. During this time, Naughton danced and sang in a Broadway musical style while handing out bottles of the beverage to people who then followed his lead. The commercials won numerous Clio awards and involved several celebrities. In 1988, he did another commercial for Diet Dr Pepper, reminiscent of the earlier commercials.
Naughton attended the University of Pennsylvania and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He earned a soccer scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied drama and graduated in 1973. His professional acting debut was in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Hamlet, starring Sam Waterston. He subsequently found steady work in various other local theatre productions. He was an Assistant Stage Manager and Understudy for the Broadway production of Hugh Leonard's 'Da'.
Naughton has also starred in the short-lived sitcom Makin' It and sang its hit theme song "Makin' It", which gave him a Top 5 hit on the Billboard charts. The track peaked at No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart. He has also appeared in various lesser-known movies and smaller roles in television shows, including MacGyver, Melrose Place, Murder, She Wrote, JAG, and Seinfeld. From 1986-1988, Naughton had a recurring role on My Sister Sam as the goofy ex-boyfriend of the series' main character, played by Pam Dawber.
Naughton has been married four times and divorced three times. He has an Instagram account with 13k followers and posts about his life and career.
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Naughton starred in the Disney comedy Midnight Madness
David Walsh Naughton, born on February 13, 1951, in West Hartford, Connecticut, is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980). Naughton also starred in the short-lived sitcom Makin' It and sang its hit theme song, which gave him a Top 5 hit on the Billboard charts.
Naughton starred in the 1980 Walt Disney Productions film Midnight Madness. The film is a comedy about a genius grad student who organizes an all-night treasure hunt in Los Angeles, with five rival teams composed of colourful oddballs furiously matching wits with one another while trying to locate and decipher various cryptic clues. The film received a PG rating and was only the second film from Disney to receive anything other than a "G" rating. The first was The Black Hole.
Midnight Madness was written and directed by Michael Nankin and David Wechter and starred David Naughton, Stephen Furst, and Maggie Roswell. Naughton and Furst are paired with a grab-bag group of fellow students, including Michael J. Fox in his first film appearance. The film also features Betsy Lynn Thompson, Joel Kenney, Robyn Petty, Sal Lopez, and Patricia Alice Albrecht, among others.
The film experienced a limited release and received bad reviews. It ultimately grossed $2.9 million in the North American box office. However, the film achieved a small cult following after it began airing on the HBO cable network. After a 2001 DVD release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, Midnight Madness was re-released in 2004 by Disney DVD with the "Walt Disney Pictures Presents" logo—the first time Disney officially associated itself with the film.
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Frequently asked questions
Justin Guarini, an American singer, songwriter and actor, stars in the Diet Dr Pepper ads as Lil' Sweet.
Justin Guarini was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol in 2002. He has also performed on Broadway and released albums.
David Naughton, an American actor and singer, starred in a long-running "Be a Pepper" ad campaign for Dr Pepper.
