Dick Wilson (July 30, 1916 – November 18, 2007) was an American actor who was best known as grocery store manager Mr. George Whipple in more than 500

Charmin Charmin ( ) is an American brand of toilet paper manufactured by Procter & Gamble. History The Charmin name was first created on April 19, 1928 by the Hoberg Paper Company in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 1950, Hoberg changed its name to Charmin Pape ...

bathroom tissue A bathroom or washroom is a room, typically in a home or other residential building, that contains either a bathtub or a shower (or both). The inclusion of a wash basin is common. In some parts of the world e.g. India, a toilet is typically i ...

television commercials A television advertisement (also called a television commercial, TV commercial, commercial, spot, television spot, TV spot, advert, television advert, TV advert, television ad, TV ad or simply an ad) is a span of television programming produce ...

(1965–89, 1999–2000).

Biography

Dick Wilson was born in

Preston, Lancashire Preston () is a city on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire, England. The city is the administrative centre of the county of Lancashire and the wider City of Preston local government district. Preston and its surrounding distr ...

in 1916. His father soon moved the family to

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Hamilton has a population of 569,353, and its census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington and Grimsby, has a population of 785,184. The city is approximately southwest of ...

, Canada. He got his start in show business with a part-time job at CHML

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a tr ...

in Hamilton at age fifteen. He graduated from the

Ontario College of Art & Design Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD, is a public art university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus is spread throughout several buildings and facilities withi ...

. Paid in dance lessons, he became a comedic acrobatic dancer and performed in vaudeville for 20 years, according to Procter & Gamble. Wilson had taught himself to fly when he was 16 years old, working for a time as a bush pilot who flew supplies to mining camps in remote regions of Canada. His earlier experience got him into military flight training and he became a bomber pilot. After the Second World War where he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force, he moved to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

and became an American citizen in 1954, heading to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

that same year to work as a film and television actor. Wilson made numerous appearances on ''

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typ ...

''. He also appeared on '' Tabitha'' and '' McHale's Navy''. He also appeared on ''

The Donna Reed Show ''The Donna Reed Show'' is an American sitcom starring Donna Reed as the middle-class housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz co-stars as her pediatrician husband Dr. Alex Stone, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen as their teenage children, Mary ...

'', ''

Hogan's Heroes ''Hogan's Heroes'' is an American television sitcom set in a Nazi German prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during World War II. It ran for 168 episodes (six seasons) from September 17, 1965, to April 4, 1971, on the CBS network, the longest broadcast ...

'', and '' The Bob Newhart Show''. Wilson was quoted as saying, "I've done thirty-eight pictures and nobody remembers any of them, but they all remember me selling toilet paper." He made 504 commercials as

Mr. Whipple Mr. George Whipple (also known as George the Grocer) is a fictional supermarket manager featured in television commercials, radio, and print advertisements that ran in the United States and Canada from 1964 to 1985 for Charmin toilet paper. Typica ...

, earning U.S. $300,000 annually and working only 12–16 days a year.Gates, Anita
Dick Wilson, Squeezer of Tissue Rolls on Television, Dies at 91
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', November 20, 2007. In an interview with ABC News on April 22, 1983, he mentioned that the first series of commercials for Charmin he appeared in were filmed in, appropriately enough,

Flushing, New York City Flushing is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is the fourth-largest central business district in New York City. Downtown Flushing is a major commercial and retail area, and the ...

. He described acting in commercials as "the hardest thing to do in the entire acting realm. You've got 24 seconds to introduce yourself, introduce the product, say something nice about it and get off gracefully."

Death

Wilson died on November 18, 2007, at the

Motion Picture and Television Hospital The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as tempo ...

Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...

, at the age of 91. He was survived by his wife, Meg; his son, Stuart F. Wilson (a stunt coordinator); his two daughters (Wendy Wilson and actress Melanie Wilson); and his five grandchildren. He was buried at

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Histor ...

Filmography

*'' The Adventures of Jim Bowie'' (1956, TV Series) — Woodsman *'' The Tattered Dress'' (1957) — First Jury Foreman (uncredited) *'' Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre'' (1958, TV Series) — Alex *'' Sergeant Preston of the Yukon'' (1956–1958, TV Series) — Beaver Louie, Jake Lucas *''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'' (1958, TV Series) — Bartender *'' The Texan'' (1958, TV Series) — Norm Seevey *''

Official Detective ''Official Detective'' is an American anthology television series which aired in syndication from 1957 to March 19, 1958. The series was hosted by veteran film actor Everett Sloane.McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: P ...

'' (1958, US series - Episode: "Loan Companies") — Injured Man (uncredited) *''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded t ...

'' (1959, TV Series) — The Cafe Owner *'' The Untouchables'' (1959, TV Series) — Sheriff Wilson *'' M Squad'' (1958–1960, TV Series) — Max *''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Bure ...

'' (1960, TV Series) — Crenshaw *''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The sho ...

'' (1960, TV Series) — Fred — Buckshot Patient *'' The Millionaire'' (1960, TV Series) — Sullvian *''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'' (1961, TV Series) — Tobias Tinker *'' The Deputy'' (1961, TV Series) — Barber *'' The Lawless Years'' (1959–1961, TV Series) — Charley *'' The Bob Cummings Show'' (1961, TV Series) *'' X-15'' (1961) — Flight Engineer (uncredited) *''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' (1962, TV Series) — Clerk *'' Our Man Higgins'' (1962, TV Series) — Fletcher *'' The Virginian'' (1962, TV Series) — Bartender *'' Perry Mason'' (1963, TV Series) — Prisoner *'' Diary of a Madman'' (1963) — Martin *'' Ben Casey'' (1963, TV Series) — Jake Martin *'' Glynis'' (1963, TV Series)' — Danny *''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'' **Episode: '' Escape Clause'' (1959) — Insurance Man #1 **Episode: ''

Ninety Years Without Slumbering "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" is episode 132 of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. The title comes from the lyrics of the song "My Grandfather's Clock", which is sung or played throughout the episode as a recurring ...

'' (1963) — Clock Mover *'' The Great Adventure'' (1964, TV Series) — Mr. Metcalf *'' What a Way to Go!'' (1964) — Driscoll (uncredited) *'' Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' (1964, TV Series) *''

My Living Doll ''My Living Doll'' is an American science-fiction sitcom that aired for 26 episodes on CBS from September 27, 1964, to March 17, 1965. It was produced by Jack Chertok and filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television Productions, in associa ...

'' (1964, TV Series) — Salesman *''

My Favorite Martian ''My Favorite Martian'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963, to May 1, 1966, for 107 episodes. The show stars Ray Walston as "Uncle Martin" (the Martian) and Bill Bixby as Tim O'Hara. The first two seasons, totalin ...

'' **Episode: ''

How to be a Hero Without Really Trying How may refer to: * How (greeting), a word used in some misrepresentations of Native American/First Nations speech * How, an interrogative word in English grammar Art and entertainment Literature * ''How'' (book), a 2007 book by Dov Seidm ...

'' (1963) — Patrol Man No. 2 **Episode: '' The Night Life of Uncle Martin'' (1964) — Charlie *''

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.''The show (and CBS) renders the title as ''Gomer Pyle – USMC''. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September 25, 1964, to May 2, 1969. The series was a spin-off of ''The Andy Griffith Sho ...

'' (1964, TV Series) — Clerk #3 *''

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! ''John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!'' is a 1965 American comedy film based on the novel by William Peter Blatty published in 1963. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The film was shot in the Mojave Desert. In the film, an American milita ...

'' (1965) — Frobish (Whitepaper's assistant) (as Richard Wilson) *'' The Fugitive'' (1965, TV Series) — Berger *'' The Loner'' (1965, TV Series) — Bartender *'' Gidget''(1965, TV Series) — Mr. Lefferts *''

'' (1965, Episode 8 "The Very Informal Dress") — Montague *'' The Munsters'' (1965, TV Series) — Al *'' McHale's Navy'' (1965–1966, TV Series) — Dino Baroni *'' Our Man Flint'' (1966) — Supervisor of conditioning (uncredited) *'' The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' (1966) — Bandmaster (uncredited) *''

My Mother the Car ''My Mother the Car'' is an American fantasy comedy that aired for a single season on NBC between September 14, 1965 and April 5, 1966. Thirty episodes were produced by United Artists Television. The premise features a man whose deceased mothe ...

'' (1966, TV Series) — Jenkins *''

'' (1966, TV Series) - Mr Solow *''

The Jean Arthur Show ''The Jean Arthur Show'' is an American situation comedy that aired on CBS from September 12 to December 5, 1966. The series was sponsored by General Foods. Cast *Jean Arthur as Patricia, a lawyer who works alongside her son Paul * Ron Harper a ...

'' (1966, TV Series) — Angelo Liguori *''

The Hero The Hero may refer to: Books * "The Hero" (poem), a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore * ''The Hero'' (novel), a science fiction novel by John Ringo and Michael Z. Williamson * '' The Hero: A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama'', a book by Fi ...

'' (1966, TV Series) *'' Occasional Wife'' (1967, TV Series) — Waiter *''

That Girl ''That Girl'' is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from September 8, 1966 to March 19, 1971. It starred Marlo Thomas as the title character Ann Marie, an aspiring (but only sporadically employed) actress, who moves from her hometown of Brewster ...

'' (1967, TV Series) — Clerk *'' Caprice'' (1967) — Headwaiter (uncredited) *''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and ...

'' (1967, TV Series) — Airline Clerk *'' The Flying Nun'' (1967, TV Series) — Joe *''

Stay Away, Joe ''Stay Away, Joe'' is a 1968 American comedy western film with musical interludes, set in modern times and starring Elvis Presley, Burgess Meredith, Katy Jurado and Joan Blondell. Directed by Peter Tewksbury, the film is based on the 1953 satir ...

'' (1968) — Car salesman (uncredited) *'' The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968) — Black Eagle (Indian chief) (uncredited) *''

Star! The current incarnation of E! is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. Based on the American cable network of the same name, E! is devoted to entertainment programming including news, film, television, celebrities a ...

'' (1968) — Drunk (uncredited) *'' Get Smart'' (1966–1968, TV Series) — Creevley, Spiegel *''

Mayberry R.F.D. ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (abbreviation for Rural Free Delivery) is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of ''The Andy Griffith Show''. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters ...

'' (1968, TV Series) — Ralph Carr *''

'' (1968, Episode 8 "Is It Magic Or Imagination") — man in bar *'' The Queen and I'' (1969, TV Series) — Man *''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually mar ...

''(1966–1969, TV Series) — Dockweiler *''

Bracken's World ''Bracken's World'' is an American drama television series that aired on NBC from September 19, 1969, to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley. The Lettermen performed the second-season theme song "Worlds" ...

'' (1969) — Harry *'' The Good Guys'' (1969, TV Series) — Ira *''

The Partridge Family ''The Partridge Family'' is an American musical sitcom starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy. Jones plays a widowed mother, and Cassidy plays the oldest of her five children, in a family who embarks on a music career. It ran from S ...

'' (1971, TV Series) — Cowboy *''

'' (1966–1971, TV Series) — Captain Gruber *'' Marcus Welby, M.D.'' (1971, TV Series) — Health Faddist *'' Nanny and the Professor'' (1971, TV Series) — Simon Mehlin *''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (1971, TV Series) — Mr. Hutton (segment Love and the Bashful Groom) *'' McMillan & Wife'' (1972, TV Series) — Simon Mehlin *''

Getting Away from It All ''Getting Away from It All'' is a 1972 American made-for-television comedy film directed by Lee Philips and starring Larry Hagman, Barbara Feldon, Gary Collins, Jim Backus, Vivian Vance, and Burgess Meredith. It was aired on January 18, 1972 ...

'' (1972, TV Movie) — Kirk Lecount *''

'' (1965–1972, TV Series) — Drunk *'' The World's Greatest Athlete'' (1973, TV Movie) — Drunk in bar *'' Love Thy Neighbor'' (1973, TV Series) *''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the st ...

'' (1973, TV Series) — Louis Nelson *'' The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton'' (1974, TV Series) — Mr. Hodges *''

Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envisio ...

'' (1974, TV Series) — Mr. Hodges *'' The Bob Newhart Show'' (1973–1975, TV Series) — Man *'' Maude'' (1975–1976, TV Series) — Man *'' Tabitha'' (1977, TV Series) — Mr. Green *''

Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tatto ...

'' (1978, TV Series) — Minister *'' The Pirate'' (1978, TV Series) — Drunk *''

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

'' (1979, TV Series) — Drunk *'' Presenting Susan Anton'' (1979, TV Series) — Regular *'' Better Late Than Never'' (1979, TV Movie) *'' Quincy, M.E.'' (1980, TV Series) — Car salesman *''

The Incredible Shrinking Woman ''The Incredible Shrinking Woman'' is a 1981 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Joel Schumacher (in his theatrical directing debut), written by Jane Wagner and starring Lily Tomlin, Charles Grodin, Ned Beatty, John Glover, and ...

'' (1981) — Store Manager *'' Get Out of My Room'' (1985) *''

Mathnet ''Mathnet'' is a segment on the children's television show ''Square One Television'' that follows the adventures of pairs of police mathematicians. It is a pastiche of ''Dragnet (1951 TV series), Dragnet''. Premise ''Mathnet'' is a pastiche of ...

'' (1987) — Grocer *''

Square One TV ''Square One Television'' (sometimes referred to as ''Square One'' or ''Square One TV'') is an American children's television program produced by the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) to teach mathematics and abstract ...

'' (1987, TV Series) — Grocer

References

External links

* *
An interview with Dick Wilson

Obituary
in the

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin The ''Inland Valley Daily Bulletin'' is a daily newspaper based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, serving the Pomona Valley and southwest San Bernardino County. The ''Daily Bulletin'' is a member of the Southern California News Group (formerly th ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Dick 1916 births 2007 deaths American male film actors American male television actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Canadian World War II pilots English emigrants to Canada English emigrants to the United States English people of Italian descent Male actors from Lancashire Royal Air Force airmen 20th-century American male actors