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{{Short description|American actor}}
[[Image:valedoughnuts.jpg|thumb|Michael Vale as "Fred the Baker"]]
{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = Michael Vale
| image = Michael_Vale_in_Marathon_Man_1976.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Michael Vale in Marathon Man 1976
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|6|28}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|12|24|1922|6|28}}
| death_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1953–1997
| known_for = [[Fred the Baker]]
}}


'''Michael Vale''' ([[June 28]], [[1922]] – [[December 24]], [[2005]]) was an [[United States of America|American]] commercial [[actor]] famous for being the longtime sleepy-eyed [[mascot]] "[[Fred the Baker]]" for [[doughnut]] chain [[Dunkin' Donuts]], with his famous [[catchphrase]] "Time to make the doughnuts." He was featured for 15 years until he retired in [[1997]], having done more than 1,300 [[television commercial]]s. Vale also reprised the role for commercials for the short-lived Dunkin' Donuts Cereal.
'''Michael Vale''' (June 28, 1922 – December 24, 2005) was an American character [[actor]] famous for being the longtime sleepy-eyed [[mascot]] "[[Fred the Baker]]" for [[donut]] chain [[Dunkin' Donuts]], with his famous [[catchphrase]] "Time to make the donuts." He was featured for 15 years until he retired in 1997, having done more than 1,300 [[television commercial]]s. Vale also reprised the role for commercials for the short-lived Dunkin' Donuts Cereal. He died of complications from [[diabetes]] at age 83 in [[Manhattan]] at [[New York-Presbyterian Hospital]], and was cremated.


==Personal life==
⚫
Vale also was a longtime spokesman for [[Kraft Foods]]' Breakstone line of [[cottage cheese]] and [[sour cream]] products, for whom he portrayed long-suffering [[dairy]] owner "Sam Breakstone". The focus on those commercials is Sam's dedication to quality, usually with Sam having a comedic "[[Eureka (word)|eureka]]" moment on how to make a better product.
Growing up in [[Brooklyn, New York]], Vale was dubbed "the actor" by his childhood friends because of his ability to imitate ballplayers and celebrities.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} After serving in the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|U.S. Army Signal Corps]] in Europe during [[World War II]], he studied at the [[Dramatic Workshop]] at [[The New School]] with classmates [[Tony Curtis]], [[Ben Gazzara]], and [[Rod Steiger]].<ref name="cnn-inside-story">{{cite web|last1=Schulder|first1=Michael|title=Michael Vale: The inside story of Fred the baker|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/28/obit.vale/|website=CNN.com|accessdate=23 June 2017|archive-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619011854/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/28/obit.vale/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Career==
Vale was born in [[Brooklyn, New York]], and studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop in [[New York City]] with classmates [[Tony Curtis]], [[Ben Gazzara]], and [[Rod Steiger]].
One of his earliest appearances was in a summer stock production of [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[Androcles and the Lion (play)|Androcles and the Lion]]''. Vale later described his modest role: "I was thrown to the lions."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-28-me-vale28-story.html|title=Michael Vale, 83; Starred in 100-Plus Commercials for Dunkin' Donuts|date=2005-12-28|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04|archive-date=2020-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204174415/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-28-me-vale28-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


⚫
He was a longtime spokesman for [[Kraft Foods]]' Breakstone line of [[cottage cheese]] and [[sour cream]] products, for whom he portrayed long-suffering [[dairy]] owner "Sam Breakstone".<ref name="adage-obit"/> The focus on those commercials is Sam's dedication to quality, usually with Sam having a comedic "[[Eureka (word)|eureka]]" moment on how to make a better product.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Vale was dubbed "the actor" by his childhood friends because of his ability to imitate ballplayers and celebrities. After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Europe during World War II, he studied at the Dramatic Workshop at The New School in New York.


⚫
Vale appeared in several television series, including ''[[Car 54, Where Are You?]]'' in the 1960s, ''[[Kojak]]'' in the 1970s and ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' in 1987. On the big screen, he was a cab driver in ''[[A Hatful of Rain]]'' in 1957 and a jewelry salesman in ''[[Marathon Man (film)|Marathon Man]]'' in 1976. The actor described working with British leading man [[Laurence Olivier]] in ''Marathon Man'' as "the most wonderful experience of my life."
One of his earliest appearances was in a summer stock production of George Bernard Shaw's "Androcles and the Lion." Vale later described his modest role: "I was thrown to the lions."


===Fred the Baker===
Vale was a veteran of the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] stage (a dozen), film (handful), and television.
Vale got the role of Dunkin' Donuts' Fred the Baker via a casting call. He was told that another actor was to be cast in the role of the baker, but was encouraged to come to the audition anyway in case he was needed as an extra.<ref name="cnn-inside-story"/> 300 actors participated in the casting call, including well-known character actor [[Lou Jacobi]]. Ally & Gargano creative director Ron Berger said that Vale got the role because of his likeability and believability: "Michael was 100% believable. He looked and talked and walked and breathed like he was a guy who got up at 4 a.m... Lou was good. But when it came to the final decision, Michael was the donut maker. After watching 300 people as Fred, Michael still made us laugh."<ref name="adage-obit"/>


The character was so well-liked by Dunkin' Donuts customers that when the character was retired as a result of moving the advertising account from ad agency Ally & Gargano to Euro RSCG, Dunkin' Donuts surveyed its customers on how to end the character. Euro decided to explicitly acknowledge the "retirement" of Fred the Baker with a campaign that included celebrity retirees such as [[Bob Dole]], [[Larry Bird]], and [[Sugar Ray Leonard]] providing Fred with advice on his retirement.<ref name="adage-obit">{{cite web|last1=Sanders|first1=Lisa|title=Longtime Dunkin' Donuts Pitchman Michael Vale Dies|url=http://adage.com/article/news/longtime-dunkin-donuts-pitchman-michael-vale-dies/47918/|website=adage.com|publisher=AdvertisingAge|accessdate=23 June 2017|archive-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514132414/http://adage.com/article/news/longtime-dunkin-donuts-pitchman-michael-vale-dies/47918/|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
Vale appeared in several television series, including "Car 54, Where Are You?" in the 1960s and "The Cosby Show" in 1987. On the big screen, he was a cab driver in "A Hatful of Rain" in 1957 and a jewelry salesman in "Marathon Man" in 1976. The actor described working with British leading man Laurence Olivier in "Marathon Man" as "the most wonderful experience of my life."


On his death in 2005, Dunkin' Donuts released a statement, noting that Fred the Baker "became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature."<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNamara|first1=Melissa|title=Dunkin' Donuts Ad Actor Dies|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dunkin-donuts-ad-actor-dies/|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=www.cbsnews.com|publisher=The Associated Press|date=28 December 2005|ref=ap-obit|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714022818/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dunkin-donuts-ad-actor-dies/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He died of complications from [[diabetes]] at age 83 in Manhattan, New York City at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.


==External link==
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
⚫
*{{imdb name|id=0883902|name=Michael Vale}}
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1953|| ''[[Guerrilla Girl (1953 film)|Guerrilla Girl]]'' || Pavel Danov ||
|-
|1957|| ''[[A Hatful of Rain]]'' || Cab Driver ||
|-
|1976|| ''[[Marathon Man (film)|Marathon Man]]'' || Jewelry Salesman #2 ||
|-
|1977|| ''Looking Up'' || Sweedler ||
|}


==References==
⚫
[[Category:1922 births|Vale, Michael]]
{{reflist}}
⚫
[[Category:2005 deaths|Vale, Michael]]
⚫
[[Category:Deaths from diabetes|Vale, Michael]]
⚫
[[Category:American actors|Vale, Michael]]
⚫
[[Category:American film actors|Vale, Michael]]
⚫
[[Category:American television actors|Vale, Michael]]
⚫
[[Category:American stage actors|Vale, Michael]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Brooklyn|Vale, Michael]]


==External links==
[[de:Michael Vale]]
{{Portal|Biography}}
*{{IMDb name|0883902}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{iobdb name|23791}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vale, Michael}}
⚫
[[Category:1922 births]]
⚫
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:Deaths from diabetes in New York (state)]]
⚫
[[Category:American male film actors]]
⚫
[[Category:American male television actors]]
⚫
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
⚫
[[Category:Male actors from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

Latest revision as of 21:05, 28 March 2024

Michael Vale
Michael Vale in Marathon Man 1976
Born(1922-06-28)June 28, 1922
New York City, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 2005(2005-12-24) (aged 83)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1953–1997
Known forFred the Baker

Michael Vale (June 28, 1922 – December 24, 2005) was an American character actor famous for being the longtime sleepy-eyed mascot "Fred the Baker" for donut chain Dunkin' Donuts, with his famous catchphrase "Time to make the donuts." He was featured for 15 years until he retired in 1997, having done more than 1,300 television commercials. Vale also reprised the role for commercials for the short-lived Dunkin' Donuts Cereal. He died of complications from diabetes at age 83 in Manhattan at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and was cremated.

Personal life

[edit]

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Vale was dubbed "the actor" by his childhood friends because of his ability to imitate ballplayers and celebrities.[citation needed] After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Europe during World War II, he studied at the Dramatic Workshop at The New School with classmates Tony Curtis, Ben Gazzara, and Rod Steiger.[1]

Career

[edit]

One of his earliest appearances was in a summer stock production of George Bernard Shaw's Androcles and the Lion. Vale later described his modest role: "I was thrown to the lions."[2]

He was a longtime spokesman for Kraft Foods' Breakstone line of cottage cheese and sour cream products, for whom he portrayed long-suffering dairy owner "Sam Breakstone".[3] The focus on those commercials is Sam's dedication to quality, usually with Sam having a comedic "eureka" moment on how to make a better product.

Vale appeared in several television series, including Car 54, Where Are You? in the 1960s, Kojak in the 1970s and The Cosby Show in 1987. On the big screen, he was a cab driver in A Hatful of Rain in 1957 and a jewelry salesman in Marathon Man in 1976. The actor described working with British leading man Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man as "the most wonderful experience of my life."

Fred the Baker

[edit]

Vale got the role of Dunkin' Donuts' Fred the Baker via a casting call. He was told that another actor was to be cast in the role of the baker, but was encouraged to come to the audition anyway in case he was needed as an extra.[1] 300 actors participated in the casting call, including well-known character actor Lou Jacobi. Ally & Gargano creative director Ron Berger said that Vale got the role because of his likeability and believability: "Michael was 100% believable. He looked and talked and walked and breathed like he was a guy who got up at 4 a.m... Lou was good. But when it came to the final decision, Michael was the donut maker. After watching 300 people as Fred, Michael still made us laugh."[3]

The character was so well-liked by Dunkin' Donuts customers that when the character was retired as a result of moving the advertising account from ad agency Ally & Gargano to Euro RSCG, Dunkin' Donuts surveyed its customers on how to end the character. Euro decided to explicitly acknowledge the "retirement" of Fred the Baker with a campaign that included celebrity retirees such as Bob Dole, Larry Bird, and Sugar Ray Leonard providing Fred with advice on his retirement.[3]

On his death in 2005, Dunkin' Donuts released a statement, noting that Fred the Baker "became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature."[4]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1953 Guerrilla Girl Pavel Danov
1957 A Hatful of Rain Cab Driver
1976 Marathon Man Jewelry Salesman #2
1977 Looking Up Sweedler

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Schulder, Michael. "Michael Vale: The inside story of Fred the baker". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Michael Vale, 83; Starred in 100-Plus Commercials for Dunkin' Donuts". Los Angeles Times. 2005-12-28. Archived from the original on 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  3. ^ a b c Sanders, Lisa. "Longtime Dunkin' Donuts Pitchman Michael Vale Dies". adage.com. AdvertisingAge. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  4. ^ McNamara, Melissa (28 December 2005). "Dunkin' Donuts Ad Actor Dies". www.cbsnews.com. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
[edit]
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