Biography
Benza was born on June 2, 1962, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Shortly after his birth, his parents, Al and Lillian, relocated him and his two sisters, Rosalie and Lorraine, to West Islip, New York, on Long Island. He graduated from West Islip High School in 1980 and went on to attend C.W. Post College in Brookville, New York, where he majored in journalism and developed a passion for horticulture.
While in college, Benza dedicated much of his time to studying and engaging in dramatic theatre. A devoted Hall and Oates fan, he formed a rock band in 1983 with three childhood friends—Whitey, Chico, and Fred—called "Fred Can Wait." As a talented harmonica player, Benza captivated college audiences with his rapid-fire playing and powerful crescendos.
He eventually left the band to take a part-time position at Newsday, a Long Island newspaper, where he covered high school sports and freelanced as a bouncer on weekends at a club named Illusions in Mahwah, New Jersey. After quitting the club job, he secured a full-time role writing gossip for the Daily News.
Benza continued writing through the early 1990s before moving to Los Angeles to host "Mysteries and Scandals" on the E! channel.
Since 2004, A.J. has co-hosted High Stakes Poker alongside fellow commentator Gabe Kaplan.
Currently, he works as a freelance writer, performs harmonica at open mic events, and occasionally appears in films and television. He resides in Los Angeles.
