Prior to his role as Ralphie in A Christmas Story actor Peter Billingsley did commercials and his most popular commercials were for Hershey's where he played Messy Marvin from the 70's until the start of the 80's and Peter was so funny in these commercials. I wonder if these commercials helped Peter earn the role in A Christmas Story?
Bestie

I loved those commercials!
And yes, it probably did help him in his career. Many actors start out doing commercials before they "make it big."
He also went on to act in a two-part episode of Highway To Heaven. Though he wasn't very lovable in that one. He was kind of a brat who gets a guy with a facial disfiguration in trouble in the episode called, "The Monster."

Hi, Bestie! Yes those were good commercials. Makes you wonder where the humorwent in new commercials.
DTK