During the early 1980s, actor/choreographer Geoffrey Holder appeared in several commercials, tweaking soft drink rivals by holding a kola nut in one hand and an "un-Cola nut" (a lemon or lime) in the other. His character became the spokesperson for everyone's favorite cookies by Pepperidge Farm, which was heard on radio and seen on commercials until he retired from acting in the late 70s, as AP noted. The 'Uncola' advertising campaign for 7-Up soft drink from the early 1970's often featured the heavily accented deep voice and hearty laugh of Geoffrey Holder - "The Uncola: Ha, Ha, Ha!" C Carl Townsend 335 followers More information These are cola nuts..These are uncola nuts. Deez Nuts, Carmen DeLavallade and Geoffrey Holder Are Engaged - Jet Magazine, February 17, 1955. The Vietnam War and the fight for civil rights divided the country. Holder was not only a great soda spokesperson, but a talented actor and artist. Rest in peace, Geoffrey Holder -- one of the greatest TV commercial stars of all time. However, before she appeared on television in her white overalls and asked viewers to choose Comet instead of the competition, she was a famous child star of the 1930s. We want to hear from you! Geoffrey Holder. He was the bald "Un-cola Man" with the deep voice and memorable "Ha Ha Ha After the show closed he starred in an all-black production of Waiting for Godot in 1957.[10]. & the water must have good on the set 'cause most of the Black talent in that film lived 'til their 90s. Paul Winchell might have been Hollywood's most famous ventriloquist, introducing television viewers to his dummy Jerry Mahoney on "The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show" in the 1950s. According to The Washington Post, Varney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998 and even underwent surgery where he had two-thirds of his right lung removed. I believe the artist was Tony Ransom. Geoffrey Holder died on Sunday from pneumonia at the age of 84. By In 1975, Holder. From this contest, JWT and the Seven-Up company built a campaign of colorful road-side billboards with psychedelic graphics. Geoffrey Holder, the Tony-winning actor, dancer and choreographer known to millions as Baron Samedi in Bond movie Live and Let Die, dies in New York at the age of 84. Interne der Pariser Hospitaler ; Ubersetzt von Dr. Gustav Beck in Bern, und mit Anmerkungen und Erganzungen versehen von Dr. Edmond Lardy in Genf, gew. His ability to sell anything and everything landed him a show on the Discovery Channel called "Pitchmen," which also followed Anthony Sullivan, a memorable pitchman who earned the nickname The OxiClean Man. "The minute the Mother Nature commercial came out, all the phone calls started to come in from Hollywood, 'cause they were very curious to see what that broad looked like, or was like, or what was the story behind her." Mays was known for his louder-than-life personality which was showcased through his pitches. I paint a slice of life, whatever it is that day. You can see a lot of the amazing advertising art that Ive collected from the 7Up UnCola ad campaign at the following link: While becoming Ernest was his most notable role, Varney also took part in Disney's "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" where he voiced Slinky Dog, and starred as Jed Clampett in the film version of The Beverly Hillbillies, per Wide Open Country. ", Popeil's website notes that his products "grossed in the billions" and the famous line "As Seen on TV" which can be seen on several household products to this day was created because of Popeil's products. Here are some facts about Holder's life and career. That clip had star power! NEW YORK (AP) Geoffrey Holder, a Tony Award-winning director, actor, painter, dancer and choreographer who during an eclectic show business career led the groundbreaking show "The Wiz" to. Here is a commercial that captures Holder in action playing against a kid who is curious about 7 Up. He shared, "I never got free cereal. The New York Times reported that Fennelly was known for playing much older roles, and when he finally reached his 90th birthday, he shared, "I was born old and I played old parts most of my life." 16 Photos Dancer, choreographer and actor Geoffrey Holder was born on August 1, 1930, in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, into a middle-class family. Both as a well-respected painter and actor. 1 hour 13 min ago, By Throughout the seventies and eighties, we were driven to the lemon lime sweetness by the even sweeter voice of one person, Geoffrey Holder. - Art by young graphic designers including Pat Dypold, Ed Georges, and Milton Glaser dotted highways across the country in 1969. Adrianne Pasquarelli In John Huston's 1982 film adaptation of the hit stage musical Annie, Holder played the role of Punjab, Albert Finney's bodyguard. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade papers, circa 19002018, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geoffrey_Holder&oldid=1126110644, Actor, voice actor, singer, dancer, composer, choreographer, director, Choreographed the season 5 opening credits, Voice, Episode 118, "Problem Solving in Shangri-La", This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 16:03. The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August 1, 1930 October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, and artist. Anderson was the voice behind the cereal's mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun, and would famously recite the lines, "Frosted Lucky Charms they're magically delicious." The 7 Up brand has all but disappeared. Geoffrey Richard Holder (August 1, 1930 - October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor and choreographer, among many other things. October 8, 2014. Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August 1, 1930 - October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, and artist. (Egan-Chin,Debbie/Egan . He reprised his role as the 7 Up spokesman in the 2011 season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice, where he appeared as himself in a commercial for "7 Up Retro" for Marlee Matlin's team. After all, you are seducing people," Holder said about his role in 7UP commercials. Geoffrey Holder never lived in the Upper West Side prewar apartment that his wife, the dancer, actor and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, has occupied since 2011. Guess what he looks like now! I create for that innocent little boy in the balcony who has come to the theater for the first time, he told Dance magazine in 2010. Researched and produced by Bill Barre and Karl Idsvoog, both professors at Kent State University, this seven-minute program uses interviews with former JWT executives Charlie Martell and Jon Furr to tell the story of 7UP's racial breakthrough. Ever since then, Kamen has been branded a sex symbol with Yahoo! It's now 30 seconds or less. Activate your account. Geoffrey Holder, a larger-than-life . BBC reported that Kamen released four albums from 1987 to 1992, with his song "I Promised Myself" off of his third album becoming one of his top hits in Europe where it landed on the No.1 spot in Austria and Sweden. I wonder how the caffeine cola crazy of the 90s affected 7up. Here's one of his 7UP commercials. He broke barriers. 7 Up was created by Charles Leiper Grigg, who launched his St. Louis-based company The Howdy Corporation in 1920. by Dan O'Day on October 7, 2014. Singer Boy George paid tribute to Kamen in an Instagram post where he shared, "R.I.P to the most beautiful and sweetest man Nick Kamen! Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). He was basically continuing the character he did in James Bond Live and Let Die thru the 70s and 80s in those commercials. Take a look. Harper acquired financial support for the musical, The Wiz, on the condition that he hire Holder as designer, director . Geoffrey Holder the actor, dancer and director whose "Uncola" spot for 7UP proved one of the best ads of the 20th century died on Sunday of complications from pneumonia. The result has been demand for Seven-Up posters to be used as room decorations, party decorations, all without any promotion by the company.. 1 hour 13 min ago, By According to The New York Times, Norris portrayed the Marlboro Man for 14 years and was a real-life cowboy after he began raising horses on a ranch in Colorado way before he was chosen to represent the cigarette company. Holder said his artistic life was governed by a simple credo, shaped by his own experience as a West Indian child who had yet to see the world, the Times reported. TheNew York Times reported that Thomas would often wear a white button-down t-shirt with a red tie and would even include a dog or a celebrity in his commercials. He was a principal dancer for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet before his film career began in 1957 with an appearance in Carib Gold. Ron Popeil wasn't a famous Hollywood actor, but he was quite well known on television thanks to his late-night commercials and infomercials selling everything from a bagel cutter, a rotisserie oven, and the Electric Food Dehydrator. He died at the age of 90 in 2019, per Tee Cross Ranches. You must log in or register to reply here. Most famously narrating Tim Burtons version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005. Over 100,000 Movies 420,00 Scenes with Previews Try it for $2.99. Holder was an established veteran actor, dancer, and choreographer by the time he began voicing 7UP ads. I don't like those phrases, but I am what I am.". Biography: Geoffrey Lamont Holder was born on August 1, 1930 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. As times changed, the campaign tried to stay in dialog with oppositional culture by incorporating new visual mediums such as grafitti. International Member. The Guinness Book of World Records even recognized Thomas with "Most TV commercials starring [the] company founder. But Mr. Holder did more than help the company reposition itself. David Gordon. Geoffrey Holder appears in ads for Seven-Up. I loved to repeat the catch phrase as a kid, Including the laugh. An actor, dancer, musician, and artist Geoffrey Holder is the Tony Award-winning director and costume designer of the groundbreaking original Broadway production of The Wiz. Winchell's show was catered to young children and featured sing-a-longs, games, and plenty of antics between real people and Winchell's dummies. Holder married Carmen de Lavallade in 1955. [8], From 1955 to 1956, he performed with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet as a principal dancer. From 1986: Geoffrey Holder truly is an un-common man Pocket Reddit Flipboard His deep voice ripples like the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. To be an Artist To Become a Designer To become an Art Director To become an Actor or Actress Previous Story Next Story Reference: IMDB.com Subject: Media Related Videos: Admiration (Black Men), Charmaine Jefferson However, viewers watching television in the '70s and '80s would likely recognize Holder as the man behind the 7Up ads. [2] [3] He was a principal dancer for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet before his film career began in 1957 with an appearance in Carib Gold. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. His precise-but-luxurious baritone delivered phrases like "absolutely marvelous," "je ne sais quoi" and "wild," successfully helping 7UP shine as an alternative to competitors Coca-Cola and Pepsi. This exclusive. This commercial has the never had it, never will catchphrase as well as his signature laugh. Are you a print subscriber? Holder died in Manhattan of complications from pneumonia on October 5, 2014, aged 84. Its West Indian rhythms conjure thoughts of mangoes and rum, coconuts and steel drums, and the warm breeze that floats through palm trees. The spot landed at No. Carmen De Lavallade. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Holder also worked in movies starring in films like 1967's "Doctor Dolittle" and 1973's "Live and Let Die," where he played the villain named Baron Samedi. Geoffrey Holder Lottoman17 18.3K subscribers 225K views 11 years ago A 1983 USA TV commercial for 7 UP soft drinks featuring Hollywood actor, Geoffrey Holder. When I was a kid I called him the 7up man. He also was highly regarded as a photographer, sculptor and painter. Trinidadian-born Mr. Holder was of 84. Who was the 7 Up the Uncola guy? Just a few years ago, Holder resumed his role as the 7Up spokesman during the 2011 season finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice." Born in Trinidad, Holder stood tall at 6' 6" and was known for his . Lindsay Rittenhouse There was a feel so good commercial 7up commercial with a young African American artist singing the slogan. These stars have become synonymous with their television advertisements and have been on air selling their specific products for years. Being part of one of the most memorable commercials ever made, AdAge stated, "The extraordinary performance of the Trinidad-born Mr. Holder made the spot one of the most remembered commercials of all time," adding, "But behind the scenes, the project also represented a dramatic change in the marketing culture of the soft-drink company the first time it allowed a person of color to be cast in its TV ad.". Shortly after the death of dancer, choreographer, actor, painter and director . He left an enduring stamp on virtually every field in the performing arts, as musician, choreographer, actor, director and designer, winning two Tony Awards in 1975 for his direction and costume designs for The Wiz. The submissions were presented to the client, who chose the final images. If that wasn't enough, he also was a talented painter and published a cookbook. It contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing drug, until 1948. NEW YORK (AP) Geoffrey Holder, a Tony Award-winning director, actor, painter, dancer and choreographer who during an eclectic show business career led the groundbreaking show "The Wiz" to. To television audiences, Holder may be best remembered for a series of commercials for the product '7 Up' during the 1970s and 1980s in which he provided his trademark hearty laugh. AP Images. AP also noted that Bernardi had found work in a few television shows, portraying Lt. Jacoby in 1958's "Peter Gunn" and the early 1970's sitcom "Arnie," playing the lead character. passed away Oct. 5 at age 84 in New York City. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Television advertisements first began airing in the 1940s with the first ad ever aired on NBC for Bulova watches. Dancer, choreographer and actor Geoffrey Holder was born on August 1, They were the subject of a 2005 documentary, Carmen & Geoffrey. Geoffrey Holder, 7Up Commercial Pitchman, Dies at Age 84 He was best known for the 7Up commercials, but excelled at other endeavors. While there have been plenty of catchy commercials over the years, viewers have also remembered some of the actors in those ads that are just as memorable. It's something that 7 Up once knew but forgot. Jane Withers was much more than a commercial star. Sadly, Landon discovered that he had cancer in 1991, which had spread to his liver, and died on July 1st that same year. The actor is most famous for voicing the Jolly Green Giant of Green Giant vegetables, where he's heard shouting, "Ho Ho Ho," and for two decades, voiced Charlie the Tuna for Starkist,per AP. The late 1960s were a difficult time in America. See the AARP home pagefor deals, savings tips, trivia and more. Actor "Geoffrey Holder" Famous for 7UP Commercial Dies (10/5/14) Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August 1, 1930 - October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor, voice actor, dancer, choreographer, singer, director and painter. In 1973, he played the villainous Baron Samedi in the Bond film Live and Let Die. Holder, dressed in a white suit with a matching white hat, would entice viewers in his smooth and seductive voice to go out and try the soft drink, also known as "the UnCola," as one ad referred to it. He followed that with Doctor Dolittle (1967) as Willie Shakespeare, leader of the natives of Sea-Star Island. Trinidadian-born Mr. Holder was of 84. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask), Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask, "Great Performances Biography, Geoffrey Holder", "Geoffrey Holder, famed dancer, 7Up pitchman, dies", "Geoffrey Holder, Bond villain and dancer, dies aged 84", "Geoffrey Holder, Dancer, Choreographer and Man of Flair, Dies at 84", "Creatively Connected Through Dance and Life", "James Bond Villain and 'Annie' Costar Geoffrey Holder Dies at 84", "Legendary Dancer and Actor Geoffrey Holder Passes Away", "Tony Award-Winning Director, Dancer Geoffrey Holder Dies at 84", "Geoffrey Holder Dead: Bond Villain Baron Samedi Dies", "Geoffrey Holder: Visionary Videos: NVLP: African American History", Geoffrey Holder's oral history video excerpts, "'This Impromptu Dance': Geoffrey Holder's Son Tells One More Story", Stuart A. He passed away on October 5, 2014, at aged 84 of complications frompneumonia. I think in the early 2000s they made a caffeinated version of 7 Up. Geoffrey Holder, a versatile artist known for his ability as a dancer, actor and a pitchman for 7Up, died from complications due to pneumonia, his family's attorney said on October 6.. Many of these commercial stars have sadly passed away, but they will forever be remembered for their work and the melodic commercials they were in. Outside of being a long term beverage spokesperson, Holder was an award-winning choreographer and actor. Ayear after "Bonanza" aired its final episode in 1973, Landon starred as Charles Ingalls in the NBC television show "Little House on the Prairie" and would later go on to star in the television series "Highway to Heaven," which he was also the co-executive producer, and in 1976 wrote, directed, and starred in the made-for-tv film "The Loneliest Runner," per the Los Angeles Times. As more research in the 1950s was proving that smoking cigarettes was linked to lung cancer, Marlboro did not want to lose what male market they had, creating the "Marlboro Man" a rugged cowboy riding his horse in the great outdoors who not only smoked cigarettes but smoked a filtered one that was believed to be less cancer-causing, per Business Insider. Margo Astrachan/Courtesy of Leo Holder. He has such a distinct accent. Kamen did find success in the music industry in the U.K. when he released the song "Each Time You Break My Heart" which was co-written by Madonna. Geoffrey Holder, the only theater man who at 6feet, 6 inchescould look Tommy Tune right in the eye and say Abosolutely maaaaah-velous,died Sunday in New York City. [19] A book of his photography, Adam, was published by Viking Press in 1986.[20]. At the time, 7UP prohibited African-Americans from appearing in its TV ads, according to Charlie Martell, the J. Walter Thompson creative director who wrote the ad. The winner received a $2000 reward and the opportunity to work with JWT to make final versions. Carmen de LavalladeGeoffrey Holder / Spouse (m. 1955-2014) Who is the black actor in the dish . In addition to performing, Holder was a highly-talented painter and composer. Holder was born in 1930 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. JavaScript is disabled. Carmen DeLavallade and Geoffrey Holder Are Engaged - Jet Magazine, February 17, 1955. his wife: their later years: Reactions: crossovernegro, jojopeeps69, blackbull1970 and 14 others. According to Biography, his character first came to life in a commercial in 1972 and would later be featured in hundreds of commercials from auto sales, dairy products, and ads for Sprite, with his famous catchphrase, "KnowhutImean, Vern?" Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Productions 5.1 Broadway 5.2 Radio 5.3 Filmography Early life He wants to see magic, so I want to give him magic. Geoffrey Holder, a Tony Award-winning director, actor, painter, dancer and choreographer who during an eclectic show business career led the groundbreaking show "The Wiz" to Broadway, pitched 7-Up . Geoffrey Holder, the pitchman for 7UP during 70s and 80s, in a 1983 ad focusing on 7UP's lack of caffeine as a selling point. Mr. Holder's casting turned that around and helped pushed the industry forward. In the company newsletter, the team explained Seven-Up advertising tells people that, of the three top-selling soft drink brands, 7-Up, the Uncola, is the only one with distinctly different qualities.. According to his website, Winchell had other Disney roles too, voicing a Siamese cat in "The Aristocats" and Boomer the woodpecker in "The Fox and the Hound.". Share on Facebook TWEET This. His career started in 1955, but he is probably best known to American audiences for two roles. These radio programs consisted of comedies, soap operas, and even President Franklin D. Roosevelt had his very own radio slot when he delivered his "fireside chats" during the evening hours, giving families comfort during a time of crisis, per PBS. Here he explains how he overcame his stammer as an adult. Who better to advertise major fast-food chain Wendy's than the founder and CEO himself, Dave Thomas? Grigg came up with the formula for a lemon-lime soft drink in 1929.