Dick Wilson
Dick Wilson
Best known for creating one of the most iconic, beloved, and instantly recognizable characters in American advertising -- Mr. Whipple of Charmin toilet paper commercials -- Dick Wilson was born in 1916 to a vaudeville family in England. Wilson moved to Canada during his childhood, served in the Canadian Air Force during World War II, and attained U.S. citizenship in 1954. His acting resumé included guest spots on such series as Bewitched (as a recurring drunk), The Paul Lynde Show, M Squad, and The Deputy, as well as a turn in the 1968 Don Knotts vehicle The Shakiest Gun in the West, but far outstripping these accomplishments in terms of fame and recognition was Wilson's 21-year, 500+ commercial stint for Procter & Gamble, warning housewives, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin" -- then turning around to secretly squeeze it himself. Wilson made a droll cameo appearance as a Whipple-like store manager in the Lily Tomlin vehicle The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981). He died of natural causes at age 91 in November 2007, after a lengthy retirement. Wilson's daughter is Melanie Wilson, who played the statuesque stewardess Jennifer on Perfect Strangers (1986-1993). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Filmography of Dick Wilson:
- What a Way to Go! with Shirley MacLaine , Paul Newman , Robert Mitchum , Dean Martin , Gene Kelly , Dick VanDyke , Reginald Gardiner , Margaret Dumont , Lou Nova , Fifi D'Orsay , Maurice Marsac , Wally Vernon , Jane Wald , Larry Kent , Army Archerd , Phil Arnold , Marjorie Bennett , Eugene Borden , Lynn Borden , Barbara Bouchet , Christopher Connelly , Tom Conway , Robert Cummings , Anthony Eustrel , Pamelyn Ferdin , Milton Frome , Teri Garr , Roy Gordon , Marcel Hillaire , Lenny Kent , Queenie Leonard , Burt Mustin , Patrick O'Moore , Justin Smith , Helene Winston , Billy Corcoran , Sid Gould , Tracy Butler , Jack Greening
- The World's Greatest Athlete with Tim Conway , Jan-Michael Vincent , John Amos , Roscoe Lee Browne , Dayle Haddon , Billy DeWolfe , Philip Ahn , Leon Askin , Virginia Capers , Al Checco , Leigh Christian , Don Pedro Colley , Russ Conway , Howard Cosell , Liam Dunn , Ivor Francis , Danny Goldman , Joe Kapp , John Lupton , David Manzy , Clarence Muse , Bud Palmer , Bud Palmer , Vito Scotti , Sarah Selby , Dorothy Shay , Bill Toomey , Jim McKay , Nancy Walker , Frank Gifford , Frank Gifford , Jack Griffin , Jesus Franco
- Stay Away, Joe with Elvis Presley , Burgess Meredith , Joan Blondell , Katy Jurado , Thomas Gomez , L.Q. Jones , Quentin Dean , Anne Seymour , Douglas Henderson , Angus Duncan , Michael Lane , Susan Trustman , David Cadiente , Marya Christen , Buck Kartalian , Michael Keller , Maurishka , Brett Parker , Jennifer Peak , Warren Vanders , Del (Sonny) West , Caitlin Wyles , Frank Parker
- The Shakiest Gun in the West with Don Knotts , Barbara Rhoades , Jackie Coogan , Don "Red" Barry , Ruth McDevitt , Frank McGrath , Terry Wilson , Carl Ballantine , E.J. Andre , Fay DeWitt , Edward Faulkner , Noriyuki "Pat" Morita , Greg Mullavey , Dorothy Neumann , Ed Peck , Arthur Space , Hope Summers , Dub Taylor , Vaughn Taylor , Herbert Voland , Benny Rubin , Robert Yuro
Dick Wilson Trivia
