You either love or hate TV commercials, but they are here to stay. Commercials are also to blame for popularizing a couple of annoyingly catchy jingles. Advertisements are often slotted at the high points of your favorite shows when they know that you don’t have a choice but to sit through them. It’s also never just one, but you’ll have to sit through a string of them.
We figure that it must be a highly lucrative field because even some of our favorite Hollywood bigwigs are known to take up the occasional advertisement work. Several familiar faces continuously appear in these commercials, and we can’t help but wonder what they are up to these days.
Old Spice Guy (Isaiah Mustafa)
Isaiah Mustafa played the guy that your significant other could smell like in the Old Spice commercials. He kicked off his career as a football wide receiver. Mustafa also played the role of Luke Garroway in the fantasy series Shadowhunters, and he also appeared in It Chapter Two as adult Mike Hanlon.
Mustafa has also featured in other advertisements, including in the Maccabee beer commercials. He landed the Old Spice gig in 2010 with his monologues in the ads making them a hit. He also appeared in a series of Old Spice YouTube videos answering questions in character directed at celebrities and members of the public.
Red Robin Lady (Melanie Paxson)
Melanie Paxson is an actress who rose to fame as the Red Robin lady. She also serves as the spokeswoman for the brand, and she has also featured in commercials for several other brands. For instance, Paxson has graced TV advertising campaigns for Glad Trash Bags, Yoplait, State Farm Insurance, and Hotels.com.
Away from commercials, Paxson has appeared in movies like Descendents. She also found success on the small screen in TV shows like The Exes, Bones, and Speechless. Paxson seems destined to be involved with the restaurant industry because she’s married to the co-owner of Simplethings Sandwich & Pie Shop.
Flo, Progressive Insurance (Stephanie Courtney)
Stephanie Courtney made a name for herself as Flo, the Progressive Insurance girl. She appeared in commercials promoting the brand on TV and radio from 2008. She has featured in several TV shows like Mad Men, Cavemen, 2 Broke Girls, and The Goldbergs. Courtney was also part of The Groundlings improv group based in Los Angeles.
In her struggling days, she worked odd jobs in catering to get by. Courtney has also appeared in films like The Brothers Solomon, The Heartbreak Kid, and Melvin Goes to Dinner. Recently, Courtney voices Alicia Stevenson in the 2020 animated series Mike Tyson Mysteries.
Pine-Sol Woman (Diane Amos)
Since 1993, Diane Amos has served as the Pine-Sol Brand Cleaners’ spokesperson. Hence being dubbed the “Pine-Sol lady.” She is a veteran actress, and her first screen appearance was in Midnight Caller, a ’90s film. She also has credits in productions like Sweet November, Patch Adams, and The Hall.
The Pine-Sol gig truly changed her life because she ended up representing the brand for the better part of two decades. Amos had to contend with some backlash for taking up the role with some articles suggesting that she didn’t suit the role. Amos kept her focus on the bigger picture, and she still occasionally picks up acting roles to date.
Snapple Lady (Wendy Kaufman)
The 90s gave rise to a generation of people who were always seen walking around clutching a bottle of Snapple. The juice and iced-tea drink was a refreshing and different beverage at the time, and it reeled in consumers with its catchy commercials. Wendy Kaufman, who portrayed the now-famous Snapple Lady, had a visibly humorous role in selling the brand.
Kaufman stood out as the spokesperson and face of the brand thanks to the flamboyant, quirky persona. She would also respond to all fan mail during her free time, and it wasn’t long before she became a household name. That means that Kaufman also received a considerable salary out of it all.
GoDaddy Guy (Jesse Heiman)
Jesse Heiman got his big break when he featured on a GoDaddy commercial with professional racer Danica Patrick and Israeli model Bar Rafaeli. Even better was the SuperBowl XLVII commercial slot. In the advertisement, Heiman exchanges a steamy kiss with Rafaeli, and the feature instantly gave him widespread prominence.
Heiman is now 42, and he still picks up roles portraying young adults or teenagers. He even featured on Michael Bublé’s music video for It’s a Beautiful Day. He has also featured in movies like American Pie 2 and guest-starred in TV shows like NCIS. Heiman is set to appear in the upcoming 2020 comedy-drama Pink Skies Ahead.
Brown’s Chicken Dude (Steve Carell)
Steve Carell is a famous face these days thanks to his role in the hit sitcom The Office. Carell had his early breaks appearing in commercials for the Brown’s Chicken restaurant chain. He was also part of The Second City, an improv comedy enterprise.
Carell’s role as Michael Scott in The Office won him a Television Critics Association Award and a Golden Globe. On the big screen, his filmography includes Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Carell recently appeared in the 2020 political comedy film Irresistible. He also stars in the 2020 web comedy series Space Force.
Sonic Commercials Dude (T.J. Jagodowski)
T.J.Jagodowski went to Syracuse University, and he subsequently launched his improv career. Jagadowski even earned recognition as Chicago’s best improviser via the Chicago Improv Festival. Since 2002, Jagadowski has been one-half of the Sonic Drive-In commercials dubbed the “Two Guys” series.
Jagadowski and Peter Grosz, his fellow improviser and “Two Guys” co-star, also partnered up to appear in the 2006 comedy-drama Stranger Than Fiction. Sonic announced that they would take a different direction with their commercials from 2020, but the Two Guys series would remain part of their advertising efforts. Jagadowski continues to guest-star in films and TV shows like Open Tables and Chicago Fire.
Sonic Commercials Dude (Peter Grosz)
Peter Grosz teamed up with T.J. Jagadowski for the Sonic Drive-In advertising campaign, dubbed the “Two Guys” series. Grosz also appeared in Stranger Than Fiction alongside Jagadowski. Grosz wrote for the late-night satirical show The Colbert Report between 2007 to 2010, and he also appeared on the show about four times.
Grosz then became part of the writing time for Late Night with Seth Meyers. He also has a recurring role in Veep, the HBO comedy series, and he also appeared in The President Show. Like Jagadowski, Grosz also appeared as a guest in the National Public Radio show Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!
Trivago Guy (Tim Williams)
Actor Tim Williams is best known as the Trivago Guy. He eventually moved from Texas, where he was born, to Germany. He found success within the German TV and film industry. Williams has appeared in the 2010s series Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten, and films like Valkyrie, Labyrinth of Lies, and Ninja Assassins.
Williams attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute before starting his career in showbiz. In 2019, Williams has a traffic incident when he was found sleeping at the wheel, and he had his foot on the vehicle’s brake. He also failed a sobriety test, but the case was dismissed after he completed courses in alcohol education and hours of community service.
The Most Interesting Man (Jonathan Goldsmith)
Dos Equis, the beer maker, cast Jonathan Goldsmith as the world’s most interesting man, for their commercials. The beer company enlisted his services for an incredible ten years starting in 2006. Goldsmith began acting in the ’60s, and his appearances in western films helped him gain traction.
Goldsmith ventured into network marketing in the ’80s with businesses like SPRINT and Dri Wash & Guard, allowing him to retire from showbiz. Things didn’t quite work out with his business ventures, and he soon returned to acting. The last time we saw Goldsmith in a big-screen production was in 2018 in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Target Lady (Maria Bamford)
Maria Bamford might be best known for her appearances in the Target advertisements, but she is also an established voice actress and stand-up act. She has worked on two comedy albums, including How to Win!. Bamford had her big-screen debut in 2000 when she featured in the film Lucky Numbers.
Bamford has also done voice work for productions like Adventure Time, Ugly Americans, and American Dad!. She’s equally lent her voice to an extensive list of films, including Stuart Little 2. She even had her life story documented through the 2016 Netflix series Lady Dynamite. Most recently, Bramford had a voice role in the 2020 animated fantasy series Butterbean’s Cafe.
Wendy’s Girl (Morgan Smith-Goodwin)
Morgan Smith-Goodwin portrays the red-haired “Wendy’s Girl,” and she is naturally blonde but dyed her hair the orange-red hue specifically for the commercial. She served as the face of Wendy’s campaign dubbed Now That’s Better between 2012 to 2016. Smith-Goodwin grew up in Cullman, Alabama and she attended Birmingham Southern College,
Smith-Goodwin graduated with a degree in theater arts and music, then moved to New York City. She took part in readings, concert performances, and she also appeared in Freckleface Strawberry, which was an off-broadway production. Smith-Goodwin even scored the lead in Sweet Charity staged in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2011.
7 Up Guy (Orlando Jones)
Orlando Jones was an original member of the MADtv sketch series. He also gained notoriety as the 7 Up guy, when he served as the brand’s spokesman between 1999 and 2002. These days, Jones has a substantial portfolio with appearances in a series of TV shows and films. He has also appeared in films like The Chicago 8 and The Book of Love.
Jones also has credits in several TV shows, including Sleepy Hollow, Rules of Engagement, American Gods, Room 104, and Law & Order: SVU. Jones is scheduled to appear in the upcoming 2020 series The Good Lord Bird as The Rail Man.
Magnum Ice Cream Girl (Rachel Bilson)
Rachel Bilson is part of a family of showbiz stars, and she was always destined to follow suit. She had a breakthrough when she got the role of Summer Roberts in The O.C. The Last Kiss marked her film debut in 2006, followed by an appearance in the sci-fi, Jumper. Bilson notably appeared in Hart of Dixie, the CW comedy-drama series, as Dr.Zoe Hart.
Bilson’s career started with appearances in commercials for brands like Subway, Pepto-Bismol, and Raisin Bran. She also got into a deal to promote Magnum Ice Cream. Bilson still appears in TV shows, and in 2019, we saw her in Drunk History and Lovestruck.
T-Mobile Girl (Carly Foulkes)
The T-Mobile Girl is Carly Foulkes, and she’s an actress and model. She rose to fame when she was cast as the lead in the TV commercials for the smartphone company T-Mobile myTouch 4G. Foulkes typically wore white-and-pink/magenta outfits in the commercials. She held on to the role as the company’s spokeswoman for other T-Mobile commercials.
Foulkes held the job from 2010 to 2013, and she still makes occasional brand promotion appearances. As a model, she graced the cover of Elle magazine (Mexican) in 2009. Foulkes has also featured in advertisements for other brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Abercrombie & Fitch,
It’s Not That Complicated (Beck Bennett)
Beck Bennett joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2013. Way before that, he became famous for appearing in the AT&T series of commercials dubbed “It’s Not That Complicated.” Bennett interviewed kids in the commercials, and it’s a 2011 satirical political talk show that helped him land the job.
Bennett’s filmography includes Kill Me Now and Beside Still Waters. He is part of the sketch group called Good Neighbor, which also included director/editor Dave McCary, actor/comedian Nick Rutherford, and comedian/writer Kyle Mooney. For 2020, Bennett is slated to appear in the upcoming comedy Bill & Ted Face the Music.
Cingular Wireless Umbrella Woman (Angela Sarafyan)
American-Armenian actress Angela Sarafyan is now a full-fledged actress with several credits to her name. She’s equally known for her work as the umbrella girl in Cingular Wireless commercials. Sarafyn’s credits on the big-screen include films like A Beautiful Life, Lost & Found in Armenia, and The Informers.
Since 2016, Sarafyn has appeared in Westworld, the HBO sci-fi series, as Clementine Pennyfeather. Sarafyan featured in Britney Spears’ Stronger music video. Most recently, she had a supporting role in the critically acclaimed Netflix biographical crime film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile. Sarafyan is also set to feature in the 2021 film Reminiscence.
Slim Jim Guy (Demetri Goritsas)
Demetri Goritsas may have several TV shows and movie appearances under the belt, but his role in Slim Jim commercials still stands out. He attended the Royal School of Speech & Drama before diving into acting. Goritsas has also worked on documentaries as a narrator.
Goritsas has also had extensive stage experience collaborating with directors like Anthony Page and Ian Rickson. He has appeared in productions staged at the Royal Court and London’s Royal National Theatre. He splits his time between London and Los Angeles these days. Goritsas has been busy working on the upcoming second season of riveting crime-drama The Alienist.
Toyota Girl (Laurel Coppock)
Laurel Coppock is an actress who is notably known as Jan the “Toyota Girl.” She got the role in 2012 out of 500 actresses who cast for the part. In 2014, the vehicle manufacturer incorporated Coppock’s pregnancy in their commercials. In the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Coppock filmed a national Toyota commercial at home.
Away from her work with Toyota, Coppock has appeared in films like Crazy, Stupid, Love. She also starred in the short 2012 comedy Jam, which she also co-wrote. Coppock previously performed comedy with the Chicago-based improvisational creative groups ImprovOlympic and Second City. Internationally, she performed with Bloom Chicago,
Orbit Gum Girl (Farris Patton)
The girl who appears in the Orbit commercials is actress Farris Patton. Her bright set of pearly whites and flashy smile are what truly sold the advertisement. Farris has also featured in several productions as an actress. Her list of credits includes 90210, The Playbook, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Redline, and Little Hercules. Patton has also been a regular on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where she took part in various skits.
Patton has graced several shows and movies as herself, including Famous Faces, which just happened to have been a TV film about commercials. Her modeling career has seen her land several jobs, too, including modeling on Entertainment Tonight.
Maytag Man (Colin Ferguson)
Canadian-American filmmaker Colin Ferguson is perhaps best known for his lead role in Eureka. He has also notably appeared in the ABC sitcom Then Came You and a series of Maytag advertisements. He landed the Mr. Maytag role in 2015, which saw him appearing in advertisements promoting the commercial and home appliance brand.
Ferguson has featured in films like The Stupidest Angel and Breaking & Exiting. He has served as a producer/director for the later seasons of Eureka, and he also directed the 2010 TV movie Triassic Attack. Ferguson was also part of the On the Spot improv group based in Montreal.
Can You Hear Me Now (Paul Marcarelli)
Verizon ads popularized the catchphrase “Can you hear me now?” Paul Marcarelli played the test guy in the ads who popularized those five words. He iconically always wore a gray Verizon-branded jacket paired with his horn-rimmed eyeglasses in all the commercials. He enjoyed almost ten years with Verizon starting from 2002 to 2011.
In a move that surprised everyone, Marcarelli took up a similar role with Verizon’s most significant competitor, Sprint, in 2016. With Sprint, the phrase Marcarelli says is, “can you hear that?” Naturally, the news that he jumped ship sent the internet abuzz, and that in itself, was good publicity for Sprint.
Little Mikey (John Gilchrist)
There’s no better way to advertise a breakfast table than have a cute little boy enjoying a bowl full of cereal. That’s what Quaker Oats did when they cast John Gilchrist as Little Mickey to promote their Life brand cereals. The commercial initially aired in 1972, and it stayed in rotation for over 12 years. That made it one of the longest-running ad campaigns to air continuously.
Gilchrist filmed the advertisement when he was just three years old, and he appeared in the commercial with two of his brothers who were impressed that he liked the cereal. As of 2012, Gilchrist was working at MSG Network as their media sales director.
Mr. Mayhem (Dean Winters)
You might have seen Dean Winters in Oz, 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rescue Me, or Battle Creek. Dean is also known for his role as Mr. Mayhem in several Allstate Insurance TV and radio advertisements. In 2019, Winters teamed up with Tina Fey on a series of Allstate commercials.
On the big screen, Winters has featured in PS: I Love You, Undercover Angel, and Terminator: The Sarah Conor Chronicles. He was also a regular around the stand-up comedy circles performing at Comedy Cellar, The Comic Strip, and Catch a Rising Star. Winters appeared in the 2020 film Lost Girl, and he has an upcoming role as Patrick Hannigan in Street Justice.
InVinceable Guy (Offer Shiomi or Vince Offer)
Israeli-American infomercial pitchman and filmmaker Offer Shiomi is a man with many nicknames. He is also known as The ShamWow Guy, The Slop Chop Guy, or Vince Offer. He initially made a mark in 1999 when he appeared in The Underground Comedy Movie. He is also an entrepreneur, and he runs the ShamWow line of absorbent towels.
Shiomi also produces the Slap Chop line kitchen utensil and a series of other products. He also produces and stars in the commercials for these products. Shiomi is also known for the InVinceable liquid cleaner he produces and has advertised. He has also appeared in commercials for products he doesn’t own like Quicky Grass.
Geico Caveman (John Lehr)
John Lehr graduated from Northwestern University, and the teaching position he held at Kilmer Elementary while still in school became a full-time position. Lehr also dabbled in acting, and he appeared in The Sweetest Thing, and while at Northwestern, he was part of the school’s Mee-Ow improv group.
Lehr featured in the Geico Caveman commercials advertising the auto insurer. He appeared in the ads as a caveman who faces different situations, including going to a therapist portrayed by actress Talia Shire. When interviewed on Anytime with Bob Kushell in 2009, Lehr said that the caveman look took three hours to apply.
Dell Computer Dude (Ben Curtis)
Actor Ben Curtis became widely known as Steven the Dell dude, after starring in a series of commercials promoting the computer brand. He portrayed the character between 2000 to 2003. While the casting call listed that the character was 12/17, Curtis landed the role when he was 20 years old.
Sadly, Dell terminated their ties with Curtis despite him helping to popularize the brand, after he was arrested for marijuana possession, The entertainment industry also blacklisted him, and he had trouble finding work. Things eventually picked up for him again, and he’s done a lot of stage work since 2005.
Subway Guy (Jared Fogle)
Jared Fogle lost massive weight after going on a Subway sandwich diet. The company made him their spokesperson between 2000 to 2015. Fogle attended Indiana University, and Subway heard about him from an article written about his 245lbs weight loss in the Indiana Daily Student.
Fogle’s tenure as Subway’s spokesperson came to an end in 2015 when he was under investigation for possessing inappropriate materials related to minors. He pleaded guilty over charges related to possessing the inappropriate content and engaging in illegal behavior with minors. Fogle is currently incarcerated in federal prison on a 15 years and eight months sentence.