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Aaron Ruell

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Aaron Ruell
Ruell at San Diego Comic-Con in 2011.
Born
Derek Aaron Ruell

(1976-06-23) June 23, 1976 (age 48)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Director
  • photographer
  • actor
Years active2001–2012

Derek Aaron Ruell (born June 23, 1976)[1][2] is an American director, photographer and actor. He is most recognized for his performance as Kip Dynamite in the indie movie Napoleon Dynamite.

Early life and education

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Ruell was born in Fresno, California and raised in a Mormon family in the nearby town of Clovis.[2][3] After graduation from Clovis West High School, Ruell studied film at Brigham Young University.[2][3]

Career

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Director

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Ruell is an accomplished commercial director and photographer.[4] As a director he is represented by Sanctuary in Los Angeles.[5] He was declared one of the most promising new directors in the world of advertising by Shoot magazine in 2009,[6] and "one of the emerging directors to know now" by Creativity.[7] He has directed commercials for clients such as T-Mobile, Nintendo, Coke, and Burger King.[8]

He was the only filmmaker to have two films, Everything's Gone Green and Mary, which he wrote and directed, premiere at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Actor

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Ruell is best known for playing the role of Kipland Dynamite in the movie Napoleon Dynamite.[7] In 2007, he starred in On the Road with Judas, which premiered in the Dramatic Competition section of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.[9] Ruell played a successful New York businessman who led a double life as a computer thief.[10]

Personal life

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Ruell and his wife, Julia Yuka Ruell, were at one time members of the Los Angeles Latebirds, an official Moped Army branch.[11][12] They currently reside in Portland, Oregon after having resided in Pasadena, California.[13]

Filmography

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Film
Year Film Role Other notes
2004 Napoleon Dynamite Kipland Ronald "Kip" Dynamite
2006 The Problem with Percival Social Worker Short film
Think Tank
2007 On the Road with Judas Judas
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! Suupa Voice Role
Episode: Brothers in Arms
2012 Napoleon Dynamite Kip Voice Role
Regular

Awards and nominations

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Teen Choice Awards

  • 2005: Nominated, "Choice Movie Rockstar Moment" - Napoleon Dynamite[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Celebrity Birthdays". The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. June 23, 2011. p. 6E. Actor Aaron Ruell is 35.
  2. ^ a b c Bentley, Rick (January 30, 2006). "'Dynamite' Is Explosive for Fresnan". The Fresno Bee. p. D1. The 29-year-old...was born in Fresno.
  3. ^ a b "Aaron Ruell, Moving Beyond "The Napoleon Dynamite Guy" | Rangefinder". Rangefinder. July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  4. ^ "Quirky Portraits by Napoleon Dynamite Actor and Photographer". Feature Shoot. October 6, 2008. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  5. ^ "Aaron Ruell". Biscuit Filmworks. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  6. ^ "| SHOOTonline". SHOOTonline. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Kip Dynamite (Napoleon's brother) is a handsome hipster with a beard now". Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Aaron Ruell - Work - Creativity Online". creativity-online.com. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  9. ^ McCarthy, Todd (February 1, 2007). "On the Road With Judas". Variety. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  10. ^ Lask, J. J. (January 21, 2007), On the Road with Judas, Aaron Ruell, Kevin Corrigan, Eddie Kaye Thomas, retrieved July 6, 2018
  11. ^ "Aaron Ruell, Latebirds — Moped Army". www.mopedarmy.com. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  12. ^ "Yuka Ruell, Latebirds — Moped Army". www.mopedarmy.com. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  13. ^ Holstein, Amara. "Wood Paneling Loses its Dated Reputation with This Renovation of a 1959 Portland Gem". Dwell. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
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