2023 Rewind: EDGE Interview: OnlyFans Star Dan Benson Has Never Been Happier

This piece is part of EDGE's 2023 Rewind series. We're reaching into our archives and sharing some of our favorite stories from the past year.

Dan Benson first came to fame as Zeke Beakerman on the Disney teen show "Wizards of Waverly Place" more than a decade ago. It brought him a level of celebrity, but after the series ended in 2012, Benson found little work. Fed up with being a struggling actor, he went back to school. Getting his BA in graphic design from Denver's Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in 2018, he pursued a career in marketing and landed a regular job.

But when an intimate photo of him leaked on the Internet, Benson panicked. "It was absolutely horrifying." he told E! Online. He thought he would lose his job, instead, his boss was understanding. The incident helped shape Benson's move to OnlyFans, which confused some who wondered why the actor would pursue such a path, and that – as a straight man – he embraced a large gay following. "I was aware," Benson said, "that they're all going to be like, 'Whoa! What is going on with Dan?!'"

Now having been on the platform for more than a year, Benson has never been happier. "I couldn't believe it," he told E!. "I feel like I'm more famous now than I was back then."

EDGE spoke to the 35-year-old about his career, his decision to pursue NSFW content, and what's his best asset.

EDGE: Can you please introduce yourself?

Dan Benson: My name is Dan Benson. I played a dorky and ridiculous character named Zeke Beakerman on the Disney Channel show "Wizards of Waverly Place." Recently, I've made the extreme decision with my life to go into adult entertainment, and that has kind of shaken the world up, especially since I am a straight man creating content specifically for gay men. It has definitely ruffled some feathers, but it's been great and exciting.

EDGE: Why did you decide to create an OnlyFans page?

Dan Benson: The reality is life after "Wizards of Waverly Place," for me as an actor, was quite a struggle. One of the things I struggled with was Disney acting is such a specific type of acting. It's not great acting, and it doesn't give you a skill set that translates into any other forms of media. I learned how to be really over the top, crazy, and goofy. That kind of acting doesn't necessarily translate onto the big screen very well. I tried to transition into other sitcoms, but because I looked younger than I really was, it was tough to find a job.

After "Wizards" I got into bodybuilding and put on about 15 pounds of muscle, thinking that I would land some leading man roles, but my natural ability and talent really came from being goofy, over the top, and charismatic. So, I made the choice to create and OnlyFans page and perform adult entertainment. After 15 years of acting, I came to the realization that I didn't really love it enough to devote more of my life to the craft.

EDGE: Would you go back to acting, and do you think having an OnlyFans page may derail your career?

Dan Benson: I don't really care [laughs]. I've tatted my entire forearm, so I've made it even more difficult to go back. I did that on purpose as a reminder to "never look back." Some may think that's dumb, because in 10 years maybe I could go back and be well suited some new roles.

As for my acting career, I achieved what I was happy with, and decided I did not want to wait on anyone else to give me opportunities ever again. I was so tired of fighting every single day to prove my worth to people that didn't really give care.

EDGE: Is your content spontaneous, or do you plan everything out in advance?

Dan Benson: It's a mix of both. Sometimes I'll have an idea for content and what I want to shoot, and I'll get some props and some fun things to use. For the most part, I just shoot content based on the idea [of] I want my page to be. I do like the spontaneous of it because I could post things at any moment. I make sure my posts seem like intimate moments – moments that are grounded in reality and spontaneity. I pay attention to what gets the most engagement and the most reactions. I also conduct polls to see what my fans like.