We’ve all been there watching our TV Show when it suddenly stops and the commercials start playing. You patiently wait for your episode to return, until one commercial plays that may grab your attention. The face on the screen looks familiar to you but you can pinpoint from where, or their name. That’s why we’re here to put a name to these familiar faces. You will be shocked to hear who they are in reality and why they are so familiar.
Familiar Faces You Have Seen On TV But Don’t Know The Names Of
Stephanie Courtney – Progressive Insurance’s Flo
The face of Progressive Insurance’s Flo is Stephanie Courtney and she has been all over the place. She has been featured in shows like Men of a Certain Age. Also, she is part of The Groundlings, which is an improvisational sketch group.
Stephanie Courtney – Progressive Insurance’s Flo
Beck Bennett – AT&T’s Guy
The “It’s not complicated” campaign for AT&T stars Beck Bennet is very well known amongst comedy fans. He is also featured on the comedy show Arrested Development, and has appeared on SNL.
Beck Bennett – AT&T’s Guy
Dennis Haysbert – Allstate Man
Everyone knows the Allstate pitchman, Dennis Haysbert as he was very successful. He also played the adored but frightening Pedro Cerrano in Major League and Major League 2, as well the US President on 24.
Dennis Haysbert – Allstate Man
J.K. Simmons (Yellow) and Billy West (Red) – Yellow and Red M&M’s
The voices of the well known M& M campaigns are famous actors known as J.K. Simmons and Billy West. J.K. Simmons has won an academy award for his performance in Whiplash, and Billy West is a well-accomplished actor. The original voices were also famous, voiced by John Goodman and Jon Lovitz in the 1990s.
J.K. Simmons (Yellow) and Billy West (Red) – Yellow and Red M&M’s
John Lehr – Geico Caveman
Under all the Geico caveman makeup you may not be able to picture John Leur. Not only is he is the face of Geico insurance, but he has been in many other projects like starring in the TV show 10 Items or Less.
John Lehr – Geico Caveman
Jared Fogle – Subway
After losing a substantial amount of weight, Jared Fogle became known around the world as the face of the subway, the very popular sandwich chain. He had a partnership with them for 20 years after he decided to go in another direction.
Jared Fogle – Subway
Laurel Coppock – Toyota’s Jan
“Jan” played by Laurel Coppock in the Toyota commercials is a successful actress who played in films like Crazy, Stupid, Love and the series Arrested Development. She is also a successful comedian.
Laurel Coppock – Toyota’s Jan
Edith Fore – The LifeCall Lady
The original and very famous “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up” commercials, was formerly played by Edith Fore. This character was called Mrs. Flecher, and she sadly passed away in 1997 and was replaced by Dorothy McHugh and then later Bea Marcus.
Edith Fore – The LifeCall Lady
Isaiah Mustafa – The Old Spice Guy
The commercials for Old Spice are so well known that they have even been shown in movie theaters. The face of the campaign is named Isaiah Mustafa and he is an actor but also practice-squad wide receiver in the NFL.
Isaiah Mustafa – The Old Spice Guy
Eric Violette – FreeCreditReport.com Jingle Singer
This one is probably not too surprising since the sound is so pleasant to the ear, But did you know that the voice for the jingles in the FreeCreditReport.com commercials, is a well-achieved musician and singer named Eric Violette?
Eric Violette – FreeCreditReport.com Jingle Singer
Dean Winters – Allstate’s Mr. Mayhem
We all know him as “That guy from the commercial,” but Dean Winter is more than just Allstate’s Mr. Mayhem. He is also an achieved actor that’s been featured on 30 Rock, Rescue Me, and the famous show Oz on HBO.
Dean Winters – Allstate’s Mr. Mayhem
Jake Wood – The Geico Gecko
Until 2015, Jake Wood was the famous voice of Martin, the Geico Gecko. He may not be as known in the United States, but the British actor is very well known in the UK as he stars in the popular soap opera, EastEnders.
Jake Wood – The Geico Gecko
Jonathan Goldsmith – The ‘Most Interesting Man In The World’ Of Dos Equis
Jonathan Goldsmith was featured in over 350 shows on TV like Eight is Enough and Perry Mason. What he is most known for is his role as the “the most interesting man in the world” in Dos Equis beer commercials.
Jonathan Goldsmith – The ‘Most Interesting Man In The World’ Of Dos Equis
Vanessa Branch – Orbit Gum Girl
In 1994, Vanessa Branch was named Miss Vermont and five years later she went on to be a hardworking actress. She was featured in one episode of lost, and also appeared in the background of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Vanessa Branch – Orbit Gum Girl
Justin Hagan And Henry Strozier – Ocean Spray Guys
The Ocean Spray guys are played by the very successful and well-known actors, Justin Hagan and Henry Strozier. Hagan played in Party Monster and Shortbus, and Strozier can be known for his films like Thirteen Days and Contact.
Justin Hagan And Henry Strozier – Ocean Spray Guys
Jake Stone – Jake From State Farm
“Jake from State Farm” is played by an actor named Jake. This actor, Jake Stone, used to work for State Farm, but today seems to be doing pretty well for himself with leftover checks and independents appearances.
Jake Stone – Jake From State Farm
Hallie Eisenberg – Pepsi Girl
The little adorable girl who was the voice of the famous Pepsi commercial in the 1990s went on to appear in several films. This was one of the most successful marking campaigns at the time, and you probably are familiar with her Academy Award-nominated actor brother, Jessie Eisenberg.
Hallie Eisenberg – Pepsi Girl
Wendy Kaufman – Snapple Lady
Most people of a certain age will be familiar with this woman. She was forever known as Wendy the Snapple Lady, after starring in one of the most accomplished ad campaigns ever. When the campaign ended, she appeared in the reality show Celebrity Fit Club and left Snapple in 2008.
Wendy Kaufman – Snapple Lady
Carly Foulkes – T-Mobile Girl
The well-accomplished Carly Foulkes has seen much success in her modeling career and has been involved in campaigns for big clothing brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy’s, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren. She also happens to be the T-mobile girl!
Carly Foulkes – T-Mobile Girl
Milana Vayntrub – AT&T’s Lily
AT&T’s well loved Lily is actually called Milana Vayntraub and she has appeared in many huge TV shows throughout the years, such as ER, Lizzie McGuire, and Days of Our Lives, the soap opera.
Milana Vayntrub – AT&T’s Lily
Geneva Carr – AT&T Mom
This AT& T mom has done quite well for herself being a successful actress. Not only was Geneva Car on the Broadway production Hand to God, but she was also nominated for Bess Actress in a play for the Tony Awards. She also appeared in other plays like Rabbit Hole.
Geneva Carr – AT&T Mom
T. J. Jagodowski and Peter Grosz – Sonic Guys Part One
Every since 2004, the two buddies that lead the Sonic commercials have been T. J. Jagodowski and Peter Grosz (right). These two comedians converse about the popular foods consumed at the chain and are quite funny while doing so. That’s not all though, Peter Grosz also has a role on VEEP, and is an accomplished writer. He contributed to shows like The Colbert Report, The President Show, and Late Night With Seth Meyers.
T. J. Jagodowski and Peter Grosz – Sonic Guys Part One
T. J. Jagodowski – Sonic Guys Part 2
Aside from the Sonic commercials, T. J. Jagodowski has quite the life for himself. He has appeared on series like Shrink and Chicago Fire, as well as like Hackers, The Ice Harvest, Stranger Than Fiction, Get Hard, and No Sleep Till Madison. His accomplishments don’t end there, he also is a well-known improv artist and was part of the famous Second City troupe.
T. J. Jagodowski – Sonic Guys Part 2
Pete Holmes – E-Trade Baby
Pete Holmes is a comedian best known for his role in the HBO series Crashing, his podcast, and short-lived TBS TV series. From 2018 to 2014 he was the voice of the E-trade company, where he spoke about investing. This was usually shown during Super Bowls and had a huge fan base on Facebook and Twitter.
Pete Holmes – E-Trade Baby
John Moschitta Jr. – FedEx and Micro Machines
Once upon a time, John Moschitta Jr. was credited as being the World’s fastest talker. Back in the 1980s, he appeared in many FedEx commercials that even won awards. After this, he became Galoob’s Micro Machines toy line’s head spokesman and was seen in over 100 commercials for these toys. But that’s not all, he has also released his spoken-word album and was featured in many films.
John Moschitta Jr. – FedEx and Micro Machines
Joe Namath – Beautymist Pantyhose
The NY Jets star and professional Football Hall of Fame legend Joa Namath starred in many commercials while he was at the height of his career. The most well known is definitely for Hanes Beutymist pantyhose. In this campaign, you can see him wearing nylons and makes fun of the association between sports and masculinity.
Joe Namath – Beautymist Pantyhose
Valarie Bertinelli – Jenny Craig
Valerie Bertinelli has been an American television fixture for almost 40 years, from appearing on One Day at a Time during her early days to her recent lead role on Hot in Cleveland. Towards the end of the 2000s, Bertinelli worked with the weight loss program Jenny Craig and became a spokesperson for it. A series of commercials showed her weight loss journey.
Valarie Bertinelli – Jenny Craig
Mike O’Malley – Time Warner Cable
When you see this image what do you see? If its Mike O’Malley as the host of Nickelodeon’s Guts or his role in Yes Dear on CBS or Glee. This can tell you a lot about your age. You probably also recognize him as the Time Warner Cable spokesman, in commercials that appeared from the middle to the end of the 2000s.
Mike O’Malley – Time Warner Cable
Edward Herrmann – Dodge
Edward Hermann had many different roles during his career. He appeared as U.S. president resident Franklin Delano Roosevelt numerous times, as well as the infamous Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. Not only that but he also narrated many documentaries and in the 1990’s starred in Dodge commercials.
Edward Herrmann – Dodge
Kelly LeBrock – Pantene
The former model, actress, is most popular for her role in films like Weird Science, Hard to Kill, The Woman in Red, and Wrongfully Accused. After she did a commercial for Pantene in 1980, she decided to abandon the modeling career. Her signature line was, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”
Kelly LeBrock – Pantene
David Leisure – Isuzu
While you may know him as Charley Dietz on the popular sitcom Empty Nest, David Leisure is remembered for playing Joe Isuzu, on Isuzu ad commercials. He was a shady car salesman and today he plays the same role in other commercials.
David Leisure – Isuzu
Martha Raye
Martha Raye was once of the most successful actresses, especially during the beginning of the 1900s. She was seen in TV, film, and radio. She was nicknamed “The Big Mouth” because of large lips and humorous personality. In the ’70s and ’80s, she appeared in many commercials for Polident denture cleanser. She was known for her line “So take it from The Big Mouth: new Polident Green gets tough stains clean!”
Martha Raye
Diane Amos – Pine-Sol Lady
The infamous Pine-Sol Lady has a name and it is Diana Amos and she was actually in various films that you have surely seen before. Some of these are Patch Adams, Blue Jasmine, and Sweet November.
Diane Amos – Pine-Sol Lady
Paul Marcarelli – Verizon Dude
Verizon has a signature campaign called ” Can You Hear Me Now?” Many reference this phrase, but forget that it came from a commercial. The face of this commercial is Paul Marcarelli, who is also an actor and producer. Verizon eventually let him go so he moved to Sprint.
Paul Marcarelli – Verizon Dude