Despite rumors of demise, Dell dude Steven is staying put in computer commercials

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Dude, you can relax. <br><br>Despite the rumors, Dell Computer pitchman ``Steven'' _ ``Dude, yer gettin' a Dell!'' _ is going to be around for more Dell commercials,

Thursday, October 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Dude, you can relax.

Despite the rumors, Dell Computer pitchman ``Steven'' _ ``Dude, yer gettin' a Dell!'' _ is going to be around for more Dell commercials, says the actor's agent.

``Dell loves him and he loves Dell,'' Bonnie Schumofsky, agent for 21-year-old actor Benjamin Curtis, said Wednesday. ``The rumors that he was given a pink slip are untrue.''

She said ``a very high authority'' assured her Curtis' job was safe.

Speculation about Steven's future started when the company, based in Round Rock, began airing commercials featuring other young actors.

``We're just trying some new things,'' said Dell spokesman Bob Kaufmann. ``This does not mean the end of Steven's relationship with Dell.''

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Curtis was not sure if his contract was going to be renewed. It also quoted Dell group marketing manager Claire Bennett as saying all good things must eventually come to an end.

Web sites and online fan clubs had been in an uproar since rumors of Curtis' firing began.

``HE'S BEIN' FIRED????'' blared a posting by ``Meghan'' at the ``Ben Curtis Forum _ A Place for Steve lovers everywhere!''

Curtis was attending college classes Wednesday in New York and was unavailable for comment, Schumofsky said.

Dell, which makes most of its money selling to businesses and schools, launched the Steven commercials two years ago to increase its consumer business.

Consumer sales bring in about $4.8 billion, or 15 percent of the company's $32.1 billion in annual revenue.