List of American advertising characters

This is a list of notable mascots and characters created specifically for advertising purposes, listed alphabetically by the product they represent.

Product Character Years used Notes
A&W Root Beer The Great Root Bear debuted 1974  
AFLAC insurance the AFLAC duck 2000–present voiced by Gilbert Gottfried
Ajax cleanser the Ajax pixies 19481950s  
Ajax detergent the White Knight debuted 1963  
Alka-Seltzer Speedy Alka-Seltzer 19521964  
American Tourister luggage luggage-mauling gorilla 19701980s  
Anderson's Soup the Anderson's Soup twins Happy and Pee-Wee debuted 1957 voiced by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding
Arby's Oven Mitt 2003–present voiced by Tom Arnold
Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup Aunt Jemima 1893–present  
Bacardi Rum & Cola drink Bacardi & Cola 2003  
Bardahl auto engine additive Dirty Sludge, Sticky Valve, Gummy Ring, Blackie Carbon 1953  
Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers Frank Bartles and Ed Jaymes 19851991 played by David Joseph Rufkahr (Bartles) and Dick Maugg (Jaymes)
Big Boy restaurants Big Boy    
Bonny Maid floor cover products the Bonny Maid 19491950 played by Anne Francis
Boo Berry cereal Boo Berry 1972–present  
Borden Elsie the cow 1938–present  
Bounty paper towels Rosie the waitress 19701990 played by Nancy Walker
Bubble Yum bubble gum Floyd D. Duck    
Bud Ice beer Bud Ice penguin 1996 known for ominously singing "Doo-be-doo-be-doo..."
Bud Light beer Spuds McKenzie 19871989  
Bud Light beer Johnny, the Bud Light guy 1995 known for catchphrase "I love you, ma-a-a-n!"; played by Rob Roy Fitzgerald
Budweiser beer "Budweiser"-croaking frogs 1990s One frog says "Bud," another says "weis," and a third says "er." This is often repeated throughout the company's ads, in that order.
Budweiser beer Frank and Louie, lizards 1998 The main adversaries to the Budweiser frogs.
Burger King restaurants Burger King debuted 1970s  
Burger King restaurants Herb 1985 played by John Merrick
Burger King restaurants Fighting chickens Spicy and TC 2004  
Bush's Baked Beans Duke the Dog 1990s-present Jay Bush's canine companion who always tries to give away his owner's secret recipe
California Raisin Advisory Board the California Raisins debuted 1987  
Camel cigarettes Joe Camel 19871997  
Campbell's Soup the Campbell's Soup kids    
Capital One Mr. No 2000s played by David Spade
Cap'n Crunch cereal Cap'n Crunch 1963–present  
Carling Black Label beer Mabel the waitress 1950s played by Jean Goodspeed (1951 through mid-1950s)
Charmin bathroom tissue Mr. Whipple 1965–1989 played by Dick Wilson
Chef Boyardee canned pastas Chef Boyardee   based on company founder Hector Boiardi
Cheetos snacks Chester Cheetah 1986–present  
Chevron (Standard Oil of California) Hy Finn debuted 1958 voiced by Paul Ford
Chevron the Chevron cars 1995–present  
Chick-fil-A the Chick-fil-A cows 1995–present known for the catchphrase "Eat Mor Chikin" (sic)
Chicken of the Sea tuna Chicken of the Sea mermaid 1952–present voiced by Darla Hood in TV commercials
Chiquita bananas Miss Chiquita Banana 1944–present  
Chuck E. Cheese restaurants Chuck E. Cheese 1977–present voiced by Duncan Brennan
Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal Wendell, the Cinnamon Toast Crunch chef    
Cocoa Puffs cereal Sonny the Cuckoo Bird 1960s–present  
Comet cleanser Josephine the plumber 1960s1970s played by Jane Withers
Cookie Crisp cereal Cookie Jarvis 1970s  
Cookie Crisp cereal Officer Krum, Cookie Crisp Crook, and Chip the Cookie Hound 1990s  
Cool Whip dessert topping Sarah Tucker 1960s played by Marge Redmond
Coppertone sunscreens the Coppertone Girl 1959–present  
Count Chocula cereal Count Chocula 1971–present  
Cracker Jack snacks Sailor Jack and his dog, Bingo 1918–present  
Crest toothpaste Arthur Goodwin, pharmacist 1970s played by Arthur O'Connell
Dell computers Steven Jackson 20002003 known for quotes like "Dude, you got a Dell"; played by Benjamin Curtis
Diet Coke Diet Coke hunk 1990s played by Lucky Vanous
Domino's Pizza The Noid 1980s1990s voiced by Pons Maar
Doublemint gum Doublemint Twins    
Dreyfus investments Major, the Dreyfus lion debuted 1960s  
Dunkin' Donuts Fred the baker 19811997 known for quote "Time to make the donuts"; played by Michael Vale
Duracell batteries The Puttermans 1990s  
Dutch Boy paint the Dutch boy 1907–present  
Energizer batteries Energizer Bunny 1989–present  
Esso Oil/Exxon the Esso tiger/the Exxon tiger debuted 1964  
Eveready batteries Eveready "9 lives" cat debuted c. 1920s1930s  
Excalibur Films Virginia Beaver   Fictional spokesperson
Federal Express Mr. Spleen, fast-talking executive 1982 played by John Moschitta, Jr.
Florida Department of Citrus Florida Orange Bird 1970s created by Walt Disney Productions
Flying "A" service stations Axelrod the dog 1960s  
Ford automobiles the Ford dog debuted 1952  
Franken Berry cereal Franken Berry 1971–present  
Fritos snacks Frito Bandito 1960s voiced by Mel Blanc
GEICO the GEICO gecko 1999–present voiced by Dave Kelly, Richard Steven Horvitz, and others; now is considered voiceless.
General Mills Betty Crocker 1921–present  
Gerber baby products the Gerber baby 1927–present  
Gillette Blue Blade razors Sharpie the parrot 19521960  
Good & Plenty candy Choo-Choo Charlie 19501950s  
Green Giant vegetables Jolly Green Giant 1928–present  
Green Giant vegetables Little Squirt    
Hamburger Helper the Helping Hand debuted 1977 voiced by Patrick Coyle
Hamm's Beer Hamm's Beer bear debuted 1952  
Hawaiian Punch drink Punchy (the Hawaiian Punch Guy), and Oaf/Opie debuted 1961  
The Hartford insurance the Hartford elk debuted 1974  
Honey Nut Cheerios cereal BuzzBee the bee    
Hotpoint appliances Happy Hotpoint debuted 1955 played by Mary Tyler Moore
Hubba Bubba bubble gum the Hubba-Bubba Gum Fighter debuted 1979  
ICEE frozen drinks ICEE polar bear    
Ipana toothpaste Bucky Beaver 1950s  
Isuzu automobiles Joe Isuzu 19861990 played by David Leisure
Italian Swiss Colony wine Little old winemaker 1960s played by Ludwig Stossel, voiced by Jim Backus
Jack in the Box restaurants Jack, the antenna ball-headed man    
Jell-O gelatin Chinese baby debuted 1959 voiced by Alan Swift
Keds shoes Kedso the Clown    
Keds shoes Kolonel Keds    
Keebler snacks Ernie Keebler and the Keebler elves 1968–present  
Kellogg's Froot Loops cereal Toucan Sam 1952–present  
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal Tony the Tiger   voiced by Dallas McKennon, Thurl Ravenscroft
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Milton the Toaster 1970s1980s voiced by William Schallert
Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal Snap, Crackle and Pop 1928–present  
Kellogg's Smacks cereal Dig 'Em Frog 19721986, 1987–present  
Kellogg's Sugar Pops cereal Sugar Pops Pete 1950s  
KFC restaurants Colonel Sanders   Col. Harland Sanders founded Kentucky Fried Chicken and eventually became its mascot; a later cartoon version was voiced by Randy Quaid
Kleenex table napkins Manners the butler 19571950s played by Richard Cutting
Kools cigarettes Willie the Kool penguin debuted 1930s Has a wife named Millie
Kool-Aid drink mix Kool-Aid Man 1975–present  
Kraft Singles cheese Dairy Fairy debuted 1980s  
Lee dungarees Buddy Lee doll 1998–present based on the Buddy Lee character who debuted in 1921
Life Mikey, the freckled-face kid 19721981 played by John Gilchrist
Little Caesar's pizza Little Caesar    
Lucky Charms cereal Lucky the leprechaun    
M&M's candy Red and Yellow M&M's characters 1996–present voiced by Billy West and J.K. Simmons, respectively
M&M's candy Blue and Green M&M's characters 1997–present  
M&M's candy Orange M&M's character 1998–present  
Mad magazine Alfred E. Newman 1954–present  
Marlboro cigarettes the Marlboro Man debuted 1954  
Mattel toys Matty Mattel    
Maypo Marky Maypo 1950s  
Maytag appliances Ol' Lonely, the Maytag repairman debuted 1967 played by Jesse White (19671988), Gordon Jump (1988–2003), Hardy Rawls (2003–present)
McDonald's Ronald McDonald 1963–present  
Meow Mix cat food Meow Mix Cat 1972–present &nbsp
Merrill Lynch Merrill the bull    
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Leo the lion    
Michelin Bibendum (the Michelin Man) 1898–present  
Mobil Pegasus 1911–present  
Morton Salt the Morton Salt Girl 1914–present  
Mr. Clean cleaning products Mr. Clean 1958–present first live-action Mr. Clean played by House Peters, Jr.
Mrs. Butterworth's syrup Mrs. Butterworth    
National Crime Prevention Council McGruff the Crime Dog 1978–present  
National Federation of Coffee Growers Juan Valdez 1959–present played by José F. Duval (19591969, Carlos Sánchez (1969–present)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vince and Larry, the crash test dummies 19851999  
NBC NBC peacock 19561975, 1979-present First appeared in 1956. Debuted as animated logo in 1957
Nestlé Quik/NesQuik the Quik Bunny/NesQuik Bunny 1973–present  
9 Lives cat food Morris the Cat 1968–present voiced by John Irwin
Old Milwaukee beer the Swedish Bikini Team 1991  
Old Spice cologne and aftershave the Old Spice sailor 1970s1980s played by John Perry
Palmolive dish detergent Madge the manicurist 19661992 played by Jan Miner
Pep Boys auto parts stores Manny, Moe, and Jack    
Pets.com Pets.com Sock Puppet   originally performed by Michael Ian Black; now mascot for auto loan company Bar None
Piels beer Bert and Harry, the Piels brothers 19551960 voiced by Bob Elliott (Harry) and Ray Goulding (Bert)
Pillsbury Poppin' Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy    
Planters peanuts and snacks Mr. Peanut 1916–present  
Popsicle ice pops Popsicle Pete 1940s1995  
Post Honeycomb cereal the Honeycomb porcupine    
Post Golden Crisp cereal Sugar Bear   voiced by Sterling Holloway
Qantas Airlines Qantas koala bear debuted 1967  
Quaker Oats the Quaker Oats man 1877–present  
Quaker Quake cereal Quake 19651970s  
Quaker Quisp cereal Quisp 19651970s  
Quizno's Spongmonkey 20032004 characters originated on an internet blog
Quizno's Baby Bob 2005–present character originated on an internet blog, and had a short-lived CBS show; currently voiced by Ken Hudson Campbell
Raid insecticides Raid bugs 1956–present  
RCA Nipper the dog    
RCA Chipper debuted 1990s  
Real California Cheese Happy Cows debuted 1990s  
Robert Hall clothing stores Robert Hall birds 1950s  
Savarin coffee El Exigente 1960s1970s played by Carlos Montalbán
Schlitz Malt Liquor Schlitz Malt Liquor bull    
ScotTowels paper towels Aunt Bluebelle 1970s voiced by Mae Questel
Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner Scrubbing Bubbles    
Serta mattresses Serta Counting Sheep   animated by Aardman Animations
7up soda Freshup Freddie 1950s  
7up soda The 7Up Spot 19871995  
Six Flags theme parks Mr. Six 2003–present  
Snuggle fabric softener Snuggle Bear    
Star-Kist tuna Charlie the Tuna debuted 1961 voiced by Herschel Bernardi
Starbucks coffee the Starbucks melusine    
Taco Bell the Taco Bell chihuahua 19972000 voiced by Carlos Alazraqui
Taster's Choice coffee Taster's Choice couple debuted 1987 in Britain, 1990 in U.S. played by Anthony Stewart Head and Sharon Maughan
Toys "R" Us stores Geoffrey the giraffe 1970s–present animatronic Geoffrey voiced by Jim Hanks
Travelocity the roaming garden gnome debuted 2003  
Trix cereal Trix rabbit    
Trojan condoms Trojan Man    
Twinkies snacks Twinkie the Kid    
Ty-D-Bowl toilet cleaners the Ty-D-Bowl Man   played by Mark Matheisen, Fred Miltonberg, Larry Sprinkle
Uncle Ben's rice Uncle Ben   Named after an actual Texas rice grower named Uncle Ben from years earlier
United States Forest Service Smokey Bear 1944–present  
United States Forest Service Woodsy Owl 1970–present  
United States Post Office Department / United States Postal Service Mr. ZIP 1960s1970s  
Vlasic pickles the Vlasic stork    
Wendy's Restaurants Mr. Wendy debuted 2004 played by Roger Eschbacher
Western Airlines Wally the bird debuted 1955  
Xerox copiers Brother Dominick debuted 1975 played by Jack Eagle
various advertisers Ernest P. Worrell debuted 1980s played by Jim Varney

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