Charming Charmin' Pitchman Mr. Whipple Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TripperFan · 11-20-2007, 01:11 PM

TV Pitchman "Mr. Whipple" Dies In L.A.
Tuesday November 20, 2007
CityNews.ca Staff
You've probably never heard of actor Dick Wilson and you likely can't recall ever seeing him in any movies. But he's been a fixture in the lives of TV watchers for years under another moniker you might be more familiar with: "Mr. Whipple." The man who told thousands of customers, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!" has died.

Wilson passed away from natural causes at the Motion Picture And Television Fund Hospital on Monday. He was 91. Over the years, he was a classic character actor in dozens of TV sitcoms, appearing in episodes of "Bewitched", "Hogan's Heroes", "The Bob Newhart Show" and a score of Walt Disney productions.

But it was his commercial pitch with the now famous phrase that turned him into an unforgettable legend. Wilson made more 500 of the spots over the length of the 21-year-long toilet paper campaign, which started in 1964 and didn't end until 1985, a rarity in the world of commercials. He came back for an 'encore' in 1999, before those animated bears finally took over.

The commercials made manufacturer Proctor and Gamble a lot of money and turned Wilson into an unexpected cultural icon.

The spots were always the same. Whipple would confront a customer hugging the package, only to admonish them with the phrase, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!" In nearly every case, he wound up committing the same sin himself before the 30-second drama was over.

Wilson remained circumspect about his claim to fame. "Everybody says, 'Where did they find you?' I say I was never lost. I've been an actor for 55 years," he told the San Francisco Examiner in 1985. "It's the hardest thing to do in the entire acting realm. You've got 24 seconds to introduce yourself, introduce the product, say something nice about it and get off gracefully."

The company acknowledged Wilson as being a major contributor to the success of the product, calling the bespectacled T.P. salesman "one of the most recognizable faces in the history of American advertising."

What you may not know is that Wilson had a major Canadian connection. He moved here as a child from England and served in the Canadian Air Force in WWII, before pursing an acting career and becoming a U.S. citizen in 1954.

He leaves behind a wife, a son, two daughters - and that famous phrase.

Mikado · 11-20-2007, 01:56 PM

theres already a thread for this Cathie

TripperFan · 11-20-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

theres already a thread for this Cathie

oops - sorry......good old CityNews....2 days behind the action. my bad.

Penny Lane · 11-20-2007, 04:34 PM

TVLand just aired the 50 most popular tv icons(or something like that) Well, there should be one for commercial icons. Mr. Whipple should be in at least the top 10!

RIP Mr. Whipple! You are a legend!

Janice · 11-20-2007, 07:15 PM

Rest In Peace, Dick Wilson. He's certainly a part of my childhood. Cathie, it's not uncommon for obit threads to be on a few boards, so don't give it another thought.

Mikado · 11-20-2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

oops - sorry......good old CityNews....2 days behind the action. my bad.

Well, no WONDER.....can you really trust a newscast that uses Ed the Sock for entertainment news and weather?

TripperFan · 11-21-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

Well, no WONDER.....can you really trust a newscast that uses Ed the Sock for entertainment news and weather?

Hey - Ed rocks! He's Triumph The Comic Insult Dog's woolly cousin!

(It's Mark Daley's horseface that gets me, but I love that guy's voice-overs and comments about the movies)!

catlover79 · 11-21-2007, 01:09 PM

What a cool guy. I loved him as the resident drunk on Bewitched!!

Brian Damage · 11-21-2007, 02:45 PM

Ireneparalegal · 11-23-2007, 09:45 PM

I grew up on that man. Wow...so sad. Thanx for the Charmin Mr. Whipple.

11-20-2007, 01:11 PM	#1
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Charming Charmin' Pitchman Mr. Whipple Dies TV Pitchman "Mr. Whipple" Dies In L.A. Tuesday November 20, 2007 CityNews.ca Staff You've probably never heard of actor Dick Wilson and you likely can't recall ever seeing him in any movies. But he's been a fixture in the lives of TV watchers for years under another moniker you might be more familiar with: "Mr. Whipple." The man who told thousands of customers, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!" has died. Wilson passed away from natural causes at the Motion Picture And Television Fund Hospital on Monday. He was 91. Over the years, he was a classic character actor in dozens of TV sitcoms, appearing in episodes of "Bewitched", "Hogan's Heroes", "The Bob Newhart Show" and a score of Walt Disney productions. But it was his commercial pitch with the now famous phrase that turned him into an unforgettable legend. Wilson made more 500 of the spots over the length of the 21-year-long toilet paper campaign, which started in 1964 and didn't end until 1985, a rarity in the world of commercials. He came back for an 'encore' in 1999, before those animated bears finally took over. The commercials made manufacturer Proctor and Gamble a lot of money and turned Wilson into an unexpected cultural icon. The spots were always the same. Whipple would confront a customer hugging the package, only to admonish them with the phrase, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!" In nearly every case, he wound up committing the same sin himself before the 30-second drama was over. Wilson remained circumspect about his claim to fame. "Everybody says, 'Where did they find you?' I say I was never lost. I've been an actor for 55 years," he told the San Francisco Examiner in 1985. "It's the hardest thing to do in the entire acting realm. You've got 24 seconds to introduce yourself, introduce the product, say something nice about it and get off gracefully." The company acknowledged Wilson as being a major contributor to the success of the product, calling the bespectacled T.P. salesman "one of the most recognizable faces in the history of American advertising." What you may not know is that Wilson had a major Canadian connection. He moved here as a child from England and served in the Canadian Air Force in WWII, before pursing an acting career and becoming a U.S. citizen in 1954. He leaves behind a wife, a son, two daughters - and that famous phrase. Attached Images
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

11-20-2007, 04:34 PM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,270	TVLand just aired the 50 most popular tv icons(or something like that) Well, there should be one for commercial icons. Mr. Whipple should be in at least the top 10! RIP Mr. Whipple! You are a legend!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

11-21-2007, 01:09 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	What a cool guy. I loved him as the resident drunk on Bewitched!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

11-21-2007, 02:45 PM	#9
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

11-23-2007, 09:45 PM	#10
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I grew up on that man. Wow...so sad. Thanx for the Charmin Mr. Whipple.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

11-20-2007, 01:56 PM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	theres already a thread for this Cathie

11-20-2007, 07:15 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Rest In Peace, Dick Wilson. He's certainly a part of my childhood. Cathie, it's not uncommon for obit threads to be on a few boards, so don't give it another thought.