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SUNY Canton Student Has Viral Moment as Timothee Chalamet Lookalike

Canton, NY (11/04/2024) — Noted actor Timothee Chalamet does not attend SUNY Canton, but his doppelganger Reed W. Putman does.

Reed is a Graphic and Multimedia Design (GMMD) junior from Ogdensburg who recently had a brush with fame when he participated in a lookalike contest for the "Dune" and "Wonka" actor on Sunday, Oct. 27 in New York City's Washington Square Park. Chalamet even made a guest appearance at the event.

"I found out about the contest on Instagram," Reed said. "Someone posted it as a joke. I noticed there was a QR code, and I scanned it, and then I realized it was actually an event. So, I just registered myself, and I threw a photo up as a joke. I didn't think it was going anywhere, but people really liked it."

Reed asked for time off from his job at Hosmer's Marina to make the 7-hour drive to attend the event, which turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When he arrived resplendent with curly dark hair, pale complexion, and a carefully crafted outfit, Reed was immediately swarmed by reporters and fans.

"That's when I realized it was serious," he said. "For a while, all I could see were phone screens - people recording me, taking my picture and asking to speak to me. At first, it was overwhelming."

Even though Reed did not win the loosely organized competition, his brush with fame has elevated him to near-celebrity standing. The 21-year-old said reporters approached him from "GQ" and "Cosmopolitan." He was also quoted or featured by "The New York Times," "New York Post," "The Spokesman-Review," and others. He also wrote a narrative of the event, "What looking like Timothee Chalamet taught me about fame," which was published by CNN.

He said his social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok have grown substantially due to his current notoriety. "I've been followed by a ton of people," he said. "Getting some social media growth out of it has been cool."

In addition to his studies in GMMD, Reed is passionate about marketing and is taking classes in the School of Business and Liberal Arts toward a minor in the field. "I love all kinds of media," he said. "I love movies, games, everything. I think that it all ties in well with marketing."

He said he selected SUNY Canton because it was close to his home and affordable. "It's truly ahead of a lot of other colleges in terms of technology," he said. "I think down to the craziest new stuff, like AI. Teachers are finding ways to work around it and help implement that information. It's also great that I could commute, and I can work and save money."

His brother, Grant C. Putman, is a first-year student in the GMMD program and is very interested in the college's Game Design and Development courses. Both are enthusiastic students.

In addition to bearing a striking resemblance to the actor, Reed and his girlfriend, Alondra Maldonado, a Legal Studies major from Ogdensburg, are Chalamet fans. He said he particularly enjoyed the actor's portrayal of Paul Atreides in "Dune: Part Two" and is an avid fan of the sci-fi series.

Instead of contacting an agent as a stand-in for Chalamet's next film, Reed said that his new-found fame hasn't changed his aspirations. He would like to pursue a creative field, like making clothes, shooting videos or modeling. He said he's going to investigate those opportunities after he completes his education in 2026.

"And as much fun as it was to be Timothee Chalamet for an afternoon, I'm truly glad I'm Reed Putman," Reed wrote for CNN.

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 23 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.

Media Attachments

SUNY Canton student Reed W. Putman of Ogdensburg poses in the outfit he used in a Timothée Chalamet lookalike competition. Photo by Alondra Maldonado.

Reed W. Putman, a SUNY Canton student from Ogdensburg, is photographed at a recent Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in Washington Square Park. Photo by Alondra Maldonado.

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