Dick Wilson, the actor best known for his portrayal of Mr. Whipple, the fussy store manager who urged shoppers “Don’t squeeze the Charmin!” in more than 500 commercials has died:
Dick Wilson, a character actor who turned “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin” into a national catchphrase as exasperated shopkeeper Mr. Whipple in the TV commercial campaign that ran for more than two decades, has died. He was 91.
Wilson died Monday of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, announced Procter & Gamble Co., maker of Charmin tissue.
From 1964 to 1985, and again in 1999, Wilson portrayed Mr. Whipple in more than 500 commercials for the toilet paper.
The first ad was filmed in Flushing, N.Y., a bit of trivia that the former stand-up comedian liked to share in interviews.
The commercials typically feature giddy, middle-age women who enter his store and cannot resist squeezing the soft Charmin rolls, despite his protests. Then, when nobody is looking, Whipple can’t help himself and hugs a package of the toilet paper.
Wilson knew the premise was silly but told the Chicago Tribune in 1985: “What are you going to say about toilet paper? I think we handle it the best way we can.”
In a statement, Dennis Legault, brand manager for Charmin, called the Mr. Whipple character “one of the most recognizable faces in the history of American advertising.”
The LA Times obit, cited above continues at some length about Wilson. BTW the Times is one of the better sources for show biz celebrity obits.
I wanted to add one thing to what’s in the Times obit that I haven’t seen in the other Dick Wilson obituaries. Mr. Wilson was fluent in Spanish and recorded his own Spanish-language Charmin ads—no dubbing.
My wife Linda Belle and I grew up in the Echo Park area and were priveleged to know Dick Wilson before his fame as Mr. Whipple. One of our treasures are two tee shirts that we we were given while on a New York vacation with Mr. Charmin pictured on the front saying, “Don’t squeeze the Charmin, Squeeze Me Instead” and we’re wearing them in a picture of us with Dick. He was a great comedian in his own right and a great pantominist as well. Dick was proud to say that he never told an off color joke and could still make people laugh. Years back he was the funniest auctioneer at the Echo Park Methodist Church annual Pie Social’s. He was a super judge for the Monterey Park Jaycees Chili Cookoff Contest in the ’80s. We miss him but cherish the memory of the enthusiasm he brought to life. – (:>}) – Chuck
Thank you so much for dropping by and leaving us that anecdote, Chuck.