The Pillsbury Doughboy, one of the ad world's best-known anthropomorphic stars, turns 50 on November 7.
Pillsbury Doughboy celebrates 50th birthday
One of the ad world's cartoon superstars, Poppin' Fresh is still pushing Pillsbury products.
November 4, 2015 at 5:48PM
Poppin' Fresh, as the Doughboy was christened, was created in Chicago, but plays a key a role in Minnesota's food business.
Pillsbury, of course, was based in Minneapolis before being acquired in 2001 by cross-town rival General Mills. And the doughboy remains a fixture in marketing Pillsbury's refrigerated dough.
The character was created in 1965 by Chicago's storied Leo Burnett Advertising Agency. Rudy Perz, a Burnett copy writer who died earlier this year, had a vision: A little dough guy popping out of a Pillsbury can.
Known for his giggle, the Doughboy was first voiced in commercials by Paul Frees, also the voice of Boris Badenov, cartoon villain on the 1960s' Rocky & Bullwinkle show.
Poppin' Fresh's "wife" Poppie Fresh was introduced in a 1973 ad, and they had a son and daughter, Popper Fresh and Bun-Bun, according to General Mills.
The rest of the family appears to have gone into hiding after the 1970s.
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