
how-to block ads
|
|
Uniqs: 859 |
Share Topic  |
 |
|
|
|
 rusdiAmerican VPremium,MVM join:2001-04-28 Flippin, AR kudos:1 1 edit | [Newsy] Dick Wilson (Mr. Whipple) 1916 - 2007 Actor Dick Wilson of 'Please Don't Squeeze The Charmin' Fame Dies at 91
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Long-time Charmin bath tissue pitchman Dick Wilson -- known to millions as Mr. Whipple -- died Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, CA. He was 91.
Wilson's career spanned nearly 70 years with roles in radio, television, film and theater. In his most famous role, Wilson portrayed grocer Mr. Whipple and made "Please don't squeeze the Charmin" a household phrase. Wilson appeared as Mr. Whipple in more than 500 spots for Charmin from 1964 through 1985. After a 14-year hiatus, Wilson reprised the role in 1999 to introduce a new version of Charmin. In 2001, Procter & Gamble, maker of Charmin, presented Wilson with a lifetime achievement award to commemorate his contribution to the brand.
"It is not an exaggeration to say that the Mr. Whipple character, which Dick Wilson portrayed for so many years, is one of the most recognizable faces in the history of American advertising," said Dennis Legault, Charmin brand manager. "Dick deserves much of the credit for Charmin's success. He helped define Charmin with consumers, reinforcing the product's softness with the 'Please Don't Squeeze the Charmin' slogan. He is a part of the Charmin family, and he will be missed."
Wilson's first job in the entertainment industry was as an announcer and disc jockey in Canada at the age of 15. Since then he appeared in more than 300 television shows, numerous motion pictures and a number of stage productions.
Wilson graduated from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, with a major in sculpture. He used his artistic capabilities to design scenery for a dancing school. Instead of a paycheck, he took his compensation in lessons and became a comedic acrobatic dancer, which he pursued in Vaudeville for nearly 20 years.
During his many years in show business, Wilson played everything from circus to burlesque to British comedies. At one point in his radio career, Wilson was appearing on 17 separate shows each week as a host, an announcer, performing character voices and sound effects.
In 1932, Wilson performed in his first movie. Among his numerous motion picture credits are "World's Greatest Athlete," "Strongest Man in the World," "Shakiest Gun in the West," "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken," "One Man's Way," "Planet of the Apes," "The Star," "John Goldfarb Please Come Home" and "What a Way to Go." In the theater, Wilson performed in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," "Dial M for Murder," "Never Too Late" and "On the Town," to name a few.
Wilson's television credits include Captain Gruber on "Hogan's Heroes," Assistant Mayor Dino Boroni on "McHale's Navy," a recurring character on "Bewitched," and other roles in "Perry Mason," "The Hero," "That Girl," "Don Rickles Show," "The Rifleman," "The Rockford Files," "Arrest & Trial," "Petticoat Junction," "Maude," "The Partridge Family" and many more.
The makers of Charmin bath tissue will make a contribution to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Wilson's name in honor of his love of the arts, culture and performance.
Wilson is survived by his wife Meg, three children and three grandchildren -- all located in the Los Angeles area.
 -- F@H console client Apply directly to the forehead! | |  SheeshI Am The Lizard KingPremium join:2001-04-11 Windsor, ON | He will be missed.
 -- 12 computers... 13 processors... Running 24/7 | |  SnakeoilIgnore Button. The coward's feature.Premium join:2000-08-05 Mentor, OH kudos:1 Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
·magicjack.com
| reply to rusdi I will now have to squeeze the Charmin in his memory.
Funny how you don't know the actors, but how they are missed when they are gone:
Maytag repair man. Mr. Whipple. Dave Thomas -- Say no to the IRS.. Yes to the Fair Tax! This beer is for: 464th bat. 98th div. Combat engineers. Hillside Ave schenectady NY. | | |
|  opus74Deep ThoughtPremium join:2002-03-04 Coello, IL kudos:1 | reply to rusdi said by rusdi:The makers of Charmin bath tissue will make a contribution to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Wilson's name in honor of his love of the arts, culture and performance. Wonder how many rolls that will be ???
 -- Lordy, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam and they both tried to kill me in 1973. | |  BUGZILLA 57don't get uranus ablazePremium join:2004-06-10 out there | Yeah, but you gotta love the guy. Almost an icon to us boomers. It made me say "Awww."  -- Las cucarachas entran, pero no pueden salir. | |  TwoFrogsPremium,MVM join:2002-01-20 Downtown Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to rusdi While Dick Wilson's career was long and varied, and he will indeed be missed, I wonder how many of us would like to pass on, knowing that our name will forever be intimately connected with -- toilet paper. 
RIP | |  BUGZILLA 57don't get uranus ablazePremium join:2004-06-10 out there | Maybe the guy that used to say, "Softer than a baby's behind"?  -- Las cucarachas entran, pero no pueden salir. | |  rusdiAmerican VPremium,MVM join:2001-04-28 Flippin, AR kudos:1 | reply to TwoFrogs said by TwoFrogs:While Dick Wilson's career was long and varied, and he will indeed be missed, I wonder how many of us would like to pass on, knowing that our name will forever be intimately connected with -- toilet paper.  RIP Know whatcha are saying Frog. It's like GTLsolo suggests. "Awww!" I feel the same, when Dave Thomas, or.........................This guy died  'Member him? Bert Lahr?
 -- F@H console client Apply directly to the forehead! | |  santyDon't Follow Me, I'M Lost TooPremium,MVM join:2001-06-10 Wilmington, IL kudos:1 | reply to rusdi He will be missed. I enjoyed the Charmin commercials. I also remember him in several of the TV shows that were mentioned at the end. "Hogan's Hero's", "Bewitched", The Partridge Family", "Petticoat Junction", The movies "Shakiest Gun in the West", The Ghost and Mr. Chicken". I'll have to watch and see if I recognize him the next time I see "Planet of the Apes". -- You don't quit playing 'cause you're OLD. You're old BECAUSE you quit playing!! | |
|