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Stephanie Taylor

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According to the Endor Express fan website, Stephanie Taylor is the actress who portrayed the Star Tours safety spokesperson in the Lucasfilm Ltd. – Walt Disney Company attraction Star Tours , [1] although the role is often mistakenly attributed to the Missourian actress Jenifer Lewis . [ source? ]

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Meet the Star Tours Creators Through Interviews, Autographs

Table of contents, star tours: the ride that took us to a galaxy far far away, lorne peterson, george giordano, orlando ferrante, selwyn eddy iii, michael eisner, warwick davis, kenny baker, fred tatasciore, paul reubens, lynette eklund & terri hardin, imagineering star tours, directed by , writing credits (in alphabetical order)  , produced by , sound department , special effects by , visual effects by , camera and electrical department , music department .

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I have incredible respect and admiration for the creative individuals behind one of Disney’s most iconic rides—Star Tours. I thought it would be fun to reach out to them to find out a little more about the Star Wars inspired ride and to request autographs from some of the people who made the joint project between Lucasfilm and Disney a reality. In doing so, I earned a renewed respect for how multi-faceted and interesting the rides’ production was. I was about five years old when I first visited Disneyland in 1992. I remember a lot about that experience, but what most sticks out in my mind about visiting the park was the original Star Tours ride. Similar to how it is today, upon first entering Star Tours’ loading area, you found yourself in a galaxy far far away. The Starspeeder 3000 was there at full scale with R2-D2 aboard and C-3PO there to greet the attendees. You would wind your way through droids and creatures until you made it to the converted flight simulators that were the ride itself. Everything about Star Tours, from the very experience of waiting in line to the ride itself took teams of talented individuals to create a first of its kind immersive experience. As it was a joint project between Lucasfilm and Disney, talent was pulled from both Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), the people who brought Star Wars to life, and Disney’s Imagineers, the craftsmen in charge of designing the Magic Kingdom.

There was a division of labor between ILM and the Imagineers. For the ride itself, ILM was in charge of creating the ride film, while the Imagineers had the difficult task of making the riders feel like they were experiencing it through the use of a meticulously coordinated flight simulator. Despite how multi-faceted the project was, all of the pieces fell together to create a ride experience that in many ways rivaled the theatrical experience of the Star Wars films that had come before it.

Star Tours Cast and Crew

David carson.

David Carson was the art director and storyboard artist for Star Tours. He also took over for longtime Star Wars veteran Dennis Muren in order to lead the ILM production of the ride film while Muren and his wife had their first child. I was able to reach out to Carson and in addition to signing a few index cards for me, he was kind enough to answer my questions.

TFTC: How did you get the job of storyboard artist on Star Tours? It seems to be the only time you’ve been credited with that role in IMDb . Carson: I was hired at ILM into the model shop on Empire Strikes Back. But shortly after being hired a large number of background plates were approved which meant that many storyboards needed to be up-dated to match. Joe Johnston found out that I had done some storyboarding before coming to ILM and he asked the model shop if he could borrow me for a while to help with the new boards. After that, I did a number of boards for Empire. I did some storyboards on Dragonslayer, though the film had a dedicated storyboard artist. And, I did a lot of storyboarding on Jedi with Joe and Nilo. The reason I’m not credited as storyboard artists is because my primary role was something else. Often the Visual Effects Art Director will also do storyboards. I got the job on Star Tours because I had been working with Dennis Muren a lot, and he was chosen as the Visual Effects Supervisor on the project. He asked me to be Visual Effects Art Director.

TFTC: The ride film had to be made to match the capabilities of the ride vehicle. How did that come into play during the storyboard phase? Carson: Very early in the project a number of us both from Disney and ILM flew to England to see the Simulators in action. We rode it a number of times and got a sense of what it was capable of, and what it was weak at. Mostly we learned that it could do acceleration very well, but needed a few seconds to set up for the move. The one thing it couldn’t do was drop quickly. It just couldn’t dump that much hydraulic fluid that fast. We kept all this in mind as we designed and storyboarded the ‘shots’

TFTC: How did your work on Return of the Jedi inform Star Tours?  Carson: I had gotten pretty familiar with storyboarding the interaction between space ships, walkers, snow speeders, etc. The challenge with Star Tours is that there are no visible cuts. So I worked out that the only way you could emulate a new situation was to have the ship turn. So for instance when it was time for the first TIE Fighters to show up, I had the ship make a turn to reveal them. Once I worked that out it was pretty straight forward. The other challenge was that action needed to be coordinated between the screen, the robot driving, and R2 on the side screen. I created a storyboard format that included all three elements. I’ll attach a copy if I can find one.

TFTC: Your career spanned a transitional period when practical effects shifted to computer generated ones. What was it like acquiring new skills and transitioning from a job like model maker to digital effects artist? Carson: I became interested in computers as soon as they started showing up. I got a home computer early-on, and began to learn programming. So as the computer began to become one of our Visuals tools, I was on-board. I was one of the first people to make the transition from ILM to the new Computer Department (on Hook). I stayed there a while working on a number of films including Jurassic Park.

@talesfromthecollection Star Wars SFX artist Dave Carson. ##fanmail ##autograph ##starwars ##starwarsautographs ##sfx ##ttm ##ttmsuccess ♬ original sound – Tales From The Collection

Brian Cummings

Brian Cummings provided the voice for the Vid-Screen Announcer (planetary destinations). Upon entering the ride, there would be mock advertisements for tours to far off Star Wars destinations like Hoth or Tatooine. Cummings provided the voiceover work for those.

TFTC: How were you chosen for the role of Planetary Destinations Announcer? Cummings: I had worked for Disney on a number of projects and the people who headed the project liked the sound of a previous job that was just a normal announcer. They wanted that kind of straighter believable sound. Sometimes we love to do wild, fun, or strange voices, but here, believably was their choice and I’m grateful they chose me. TFTC: What was your experience like working with Disney and Lucasfilm? Cummings: Like two people who work together who have different perspectives, these giants of the magic of our most memorable media have powerful insights. To me, it’s like a gamer’s love of the game. I needed to get the vision from both and try to satisfy both. The challenge makes it exciting! It also is satisfying that they both knew when we hit the mark. Loved it! TFTC: If you’ve had the chance to experience it, what did you think of the updated ride, Star Tours—The Adventures Continue? Cummings: Things that are just good enough or dated get replaced. Great things evolve. There are also times when creative teams change, but no matter, creativity is a process and not a destination. I loved doing the original Duck Tales! It isn’t as fun that they’ve evolved for me, as an actor, but it’s remarkable and satisfying to see a great concept reaching new fans. When it goes on, the innovations make the craft better and also the experience as well. I began as a fan, then actor, now a fan again.

The late Ira keeler got his movie making start in the early 1980’s while working on Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi as a model maker at ILM. He worked on several other films leading up to Star Tours, as well as Captain EO, which was ILM and Disney’s first collaboration. In addition to making models for the ride film, Keeler also made a cameo as well.

TFTC: Were there particular models that you worked on for Star Tours or did you have a part in a little bit of everything? Keeler: I built speeder craft models, the Death Star’s surface, and the set for the hyperspace shot [as well as] the model of the control room. I am the guy at the end of the ride in the control room. Go on a computer and search for the original Star Tours Ride and you will see me at the end . TFTC: Disney Parks are known for their hidden secrets and there are plenty in the rides themselves. Were you able to include any in the work that you did? Keeler: They sent us a model spacewship from the ride we replaced. (Note: Star Tours replaced the ride Adventure Thru Inner Space.) TFTC: What were your impressions of the ride’s updated version Star Tours—The Adventures Continue? Keeler: I have not seen the new ride.

Richard Bellis

Richard Bellis is the creative force behind the scores for many of Disney’s popular theme park attractions. His music has provided the backdrop for tons of rides to include: Star Tours, Alien Encounter, and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. He’s an Emmy Award-winning composer whose work for The Walt Disney Company spans across decades and parks all around the world, including Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland.

TFTC: How did John Williams’ score influence your own? Bellis:  There were two separate jobs on Star Tours.  First, the ride portion which involved choosing the sections of JW scores from Star Wars, figuring out how to edit them together (musically) into a score for the ride video as well as how the ride physically affected the audience.  Then re-recording that music in the edited format. Second, the pre-show music which involved the “Droid’s Room” and several travel videos on the “Status Board” not to mention the “Announce Chime” was my original music.  I think everything I composed had to be influenced by JW in some form or fashion.  The “Droid’s Room” was obviously influenced by the Cantina Band cue from the film.  Interestingly, the “Announce Chime” was influenced by Close Encounters of the Third Kind (communication with the Mother Ship), another John Williams score.  The Status Board videos were supposed to sound like advertisements for trips to Endor, Hoth, etc. The Droid’s Room was supposed to be a workshop with droids repairing droid pilots but in the end, the music was playing out of a “boom box” where a single droid was working on a repair. We also re-recorded more JW music for the exit area. TFTC: Did you have to keep the motions of the ride in mind as you were composing or was it completely based on what occurs on screen? Bellis: Ha! Well above I referred to this.  The short answer is “Yes”.  Both were important.  A group of us were treated to a test ride at the Imagineering campus in the early stages of development which allowed us to watch the flight simulator from the outside before riding inside.  Very cool.  I would get a copy of the film to work with but, with Disney ride attractions, we learned that even a camera strapped to the ride vehicle, you couldn’t FEEL the ride.  That’s because the camera and the vehicle moved exactly together and when one is a passenger, one moves contrary to the bumps and dips of the vehicle. TFTC: Do you have any memories or interesting moments during your time working on the ride that you would like to share? Bellis:  Well, again, above you have one example of an extraordinary memory.  In addition, standing on the podium in a studio filled with incredible musicians, conducting JW’s fabulous music was a rare treat.  For one thing, I was not at all concerned, as I would be with my own music, if it would work or not.  Proven, beautiful orchestral music and all I had to do was give a downbeat and off it went.

One of Lorne Peterson’s lesser known roles was as ILM’s supervising model maker for the Star Tours ride. By 1987 when the ride debuted, Peterson was a seasoned veteran in the model shop, having worked on all three previous Star Wars films as well as Indiana Jones and E.T. Star Tours required all new footage and models to be created. It was such an undertaking that it was said to be a more difficult project than the full length Star Wars films.

George Giordano was on the Star Tours special effects crew for the ride’s footage. Giordano has a long history of working in special effects and now runs his own studio PCND/Fx .

During his 40 years at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), former vice president of engineering, design, and production Orlando Ferrante helped create magical Disney lands around the world. On Star Tours, Orlando aided in story development as part of the Imagineering project team.

Selwyn Eddy began his film career working at Lucasfilm as assistant cameraman in the miniature and optical effects unit on Return of the Jedi. For Star Tours, he was the effects cameraman and later went on to be a computer graphics artist for the special edition of  Star Wars, and assistant cameraman for  The Empire Strikes Back  .

This photo shows Michael Eisner, center, Disney chairman, and Star Wars creator George Lucas as they prepare to use a lightsaber to cut the ribbon to open the new Star Tours attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 9, 1987. Without Eisner, the ride never would have come to fruition.

For Star Tours, Warwick Davis reprised the role of the Ewok Wicket W. Warrick from Return of the Jedi.

Kenny Baker is one of the few actors from the original Star Wars trilogy to make an appearance on Star Tours. He played R2-D2 on the ride film.

Unlike Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films who was voiced by James Earl Jones, Star Tours’ Vader was voiced by Fred Tatasciore.

Paul Rubens is known for his character Pee-wee Herman. A zany character with a wildly popular kid’s show in the 80’s. His off the wall personality made him the perfect fit for the haywire pilot droid RX-24 a.k.a. Captain “Rex” in Star Tours.

Lynette Eklund and Terri Hardin both worked on Star Tours and continue to collaborate to this day. They created the Ackbar puppet used in the Tokyo Disneyland version of the ride. Lynette also did some work for Nintendo which you can check out here . Eklund is also credited with designing the “Vomit Seat” for the original Star Tours in Disneyland. It was a redesigned seat for the ride, better equipped to handle, well, vomit.

If you would like to learn more about the history of Star Tours, starwars.com did an incredible two part write up on the history of Star Tours which is worth a read as it provides an in-depth retelling of the ride’s history from inception to opening day. The first part covered the impetus of the ride and the second part covers how Star Tours was made.

Star Tours Credits

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Disney Did You Know: The Voices Behind the Droids of Star Tours

Yes, you probably have heard the voices of the Star Tours droids before, so no, you’re not going crazy. Let me do a few introductions for you that are long overdue.

Here are the main droids and their famous voices:

C-3PO (and R2-D2) – Both of these original Star Wars characters can be found as Guests first enter the Star Tours Travel Agency. These droids are doing routine checkups on the StarSpeeder that Guests will boarding later on in the attraction. C-3PO is voiced by Anthony Daniels, who provides the original voice for the droid in all six films. This time, Daniels has a larger role when he becomes the unintentional captain, trapped within the StarSpeeder 1000’s cockpit as it takes off.

G2-9T – G2-9T loves to gossip and tell stories, so he doesn’t always pay attention to what comes in on his security scanners: WALL-E, Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat, Stormtrooper armor, a Buzz Lightyear action figure, various droids and Lando Calrissian’s effects are just a few of the items that G2-9T scans in passengers’ luggage (Side note: G2-9T usually absentmindedly lets threatening weapons through, while destroying or quarantining the non-threatening items). Guests may also hear some inside jokes that reference Star Wars or Disney films.

This droid is voiced by Tom Fitzgerald, veteran Disney Imagineer. Disney commonly places their own people in their attractions, often as a nod to their great work. Fitzgerald was the creative executive on the reimagining of this attraction when it reopened in 2011. He is Executive VP and Senior Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, and was recently named Creative Director at Epcot. He is also currently head of WDI at Disneyland Paris, where he is overseeing the upcoming Ratatouille attraction.

G2-4T – Before entering the boarding area, Guests pass through a series of security scanners operated by security officer G2-4T. This droid makes jokes about how much he dislikes his job and the strange tourists who pass through his security gate. Guests may see this droid, as well as G2-9T, get shut down temporarily as these two tend to bicker and gossip quite frequently. G2-4T is voiced by the amazing Patrick Warburton, who also hosts the pre-show for Soarin’ over at Epcot.

His deep voice is instantaneously recognizable and usually accompanied with deadpan delivery. In addition to his theme park roles, he has also voiced Yzma’s henchman Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove , as well as Buzz Lightyear on the Disney Channel’s Buzz Lightyear of Star Command . He has also provided numerous other small roles in Disney films such as Home on the Range , Chicken Little , Sky High , and Underdog . Guests may also recognize him as David Puddy from Seinfeld , Joe Swanson from Family Guy , Jeff Bingham from Rules of Engagemen t and The Tick.

Aly San San – This droid, modeled after the WA-7 droid from Episode II, is known as the “spokesbot” for the Star Tours Travel Company. She provides helpful information about departure times, boarding and safety (in both English and Spanish)! She is voiced by actress Allison Janney.

Janney is an actress who is best known for playing C.J. Cregg on West Wing . She has also acted in films such as American Beauty , Juno and 10 Things I Hate About You . Guests may recognize her unique voice from Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo as the starfish Peach, and she can also be heard in this role on the Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot. She has also voiced Charlene Doofenshmirtz (Heinz’s ex-wife) on several episodes of Disney Channel’s Phineas and Ferb .

Captain Rex (RX-24) – The droid from the original Star Tours attraction can still be found in the current queue line. As Guests enter the cargo bay, to the left, RX-24 can be found in his packaging, with decals that read “DEFECTIVE” and “RETURN TO FACTORY”.

Since the reimagined attraction actually occurs in the timeline before the original Star Tours, some Guests may find this little reference quite humorous, since Captain Rex was the original StarSpeeder pilot (and not a very good one). Guests may hear this RX-24 speak a few choppy lines from the original attraction before he shorts out. Paul Reubens was the voice for this original character and is most famous for his role as Pee Wee Herman.

As always, these droids perform to the best of their capabilities to provide a safe and positive experience for all Guests flying Star Tours, so give them a nod next time you see them!

Don’t forget, Paul Reubens also voiced Max in the Disney movie Flight of the Navigator!

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Star Tours (1987)

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Writing credits (in alphabetical order)  , cast  , produced by , music by , sound department , special effects by , visual effects by , camera and electrical department , music department .

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Coronation Street The Tour have announced a series of Star Tours will launch from next month, giving guests the chance to now meet members of the cast as they explore behind the scenes of the nation’s famous cobbles. 

Whilst bosses of the official guided tours are keeping names of the cast appearing close to their chest, they’re sure to be a welcome surprise as they pop out to say hello, pose for a picture and regale guests with the odd filming secret or story during the special events.

Steve Masters, General Manager at Coronation Street The Tour said, “ Taking a tour of Coronation Street is a real treat for many fans   and we often hear guests talking about their favourite characters and storylines from the show . 

“ With the launch of our new Star Tours - and the first of the series taking place in just a few weeks - guests now have the chance to meet someone from the show and we can’t wait to see their faces!”

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How Do You Find Names of Actors in TV Commercials?

Whether you’re a talent scout for a commercial production company or just a curious TV viewer, you might’ve wondered about the actors who bring some of TV’s most recognizable characters to life. And we’re not talking about sitcom stars — we’re talking about the folks who try and sell you on car insurance and cell service providers. So, how do you find the names of actors in TV’s biggest commercials? We’ve got a few suggestions.

Top Resources for Identifying Actors in TV Commercials

The short answer? Like most other things these days, you can pretty easily find the names of actors in TV commercials through a simple online search. In particular, there are several websites and online resources that specialize in this kind of search. 

Here are some of our top recommendations: 

• iSpot.TV: This company is a TV advertising measurement firm, but it’s still a helpful resource, namely because you can search and browse on their database of commercials. Once you find the particular ad you have in mind, click on it to see what kind of credits are listed. Keep in mind, not every ad lists names for actors, but you can discover the title of the commercial as well as the name of the advertising agency that produced it — all of which will help you in your search attempts.
• AdsoftheWorld.com: Ads of the World is a site that has one big advantage: You can search for particular ads by country, industries and medium used, as in film, audio, digital and print. Simply search away and the site’s database will help you find an actor in any given TV spot. 
• IMDb: The Internet Movie Database is more than just a way to look up that actor you kind of recognize in your latest Netflix marathon. In addition to cataloguing actors’ film and TV credits, IMDb also displays credits actors have in ads, short films and more. While commercials may not be the primary focus here, this resource can still come in handy in a pinch.
• Social Media: Unsurprisingly, social media is another great tool. Not only can you ask friends and acquaintances in your network, you can also search relevant keywords for ads or brands to see if anyone else on Twitter or Facebook is talking about the ad and the actor who stars in it. Additionally, many actors promote their work with social media, which means you might just stumble upon their profile, especially if they’re well-known for playing a commercial character. 

Some of the Most Commonly Searched TV Commercial Actors

While some brands rely on animated geckos or cheese-loving cheetahs, others put stock in actors’ charms. Without a doubt, there are some actors who’ve become instantly recognizable as a result of appearing in a long-running TV ad campaign. 

Here are some of the most commonly searched TV actors: 

• Paul Marcarelli: You’ll likely recognize this glasses-wearing actor from Verizon Wireless’ 13-year TV advertising campaign “Can You Hear Me Now?” In 2016, Marcarelli shocked the industry when he jumped to competitor Sprint, becoming the longtime star of their commercials.
• Stephanie Courtney: This actor plays the infamous Flo in Progressive Insurance commercials. Courtney first appeared as the character in early 2008, and, in the decade since, revenues for the insurance giant grew from $13 billion in 2008 to a whopping $36 billion in 2019. 
• Jonathan Goldsmith: This actor was the face of “The Most Interesting Man in the World” campaign for Dos Equis from 2007 to 2015. He was replaced in 2016 by a French actor, and in 2018, Dos Equis shut down that particular campaign altogether. Interesting… 

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Why You Might Recognize These Commercial Actors

As a result of billions of dollars poured into advertising, television commercials have become nearly as entertaining as whichever program you are watching. Long before the internet made videos go viral, clever commercials had everyone saying things like "Where's the beef?" and singing jingles about bubble gum and bologna. Even as the world turned to digital streaming and instant content, commercials have remained prosperous, making their way to social media sites and movie theaters.

Short television ads have become so ingrained in media that many famous actors got their start selling one product or another, including Paul Rudd promoting Super Nintendo or Steve Carell starring in a Brown's Chicken ad . Conversely, well-established performers have been poached from the big screen into making memorable commercials, such as George Clooney's massive payout for promoting Nespresso .

Work is work, and for almost any thespian in Hollywood, there is no shame in making money performing in a commercial. So, it is no surprise that many faces look familiar when seeing a new promo. However, many actors are more recognizable from their TV ads than other work. Below are some of the most famous commercial actors you know you have seen in other projects, but they are so associated with a product that it is hard to separate them. Keep reading to discover all the places where you've seen these commercial performers before.

Milana Vayntrub

From 2013 to 2016, Milana Vayntrub became one of the most iconic commercial actors in the country when she became the lovable Lily Adams in a series of AT&T ads. With a lovable smile and demeanor, Vayntrub gained a following, becoming so popular that she was asked to return as the company's spokesperson in 2020. However, against everything audiences would like to believe, the adorable Lily was not picked out of an AT&T store to be the new face of the company. Rather, Vayntrub was a working actress who had many appearances before, during, and after her AT&T run.

Surprisingly, the actress made her debut when she was 8 years old, appearing on three episodes of "ER" in 1995. Vayntrub had minor appearances in memorable television shows before breaking out in commercial acting. She appeared on "Lizzie McGuire," "The League," and became a vampire for a skit on "Key and Peele."  Her position as Lily for AT&T seemingly helped Vayntrub land some significant roles. Following her initial run with the mobile phone company, she earned a recurring spot on the television series "This is Us," and has since become the voice of Marvel Comics superhero Squirrel Girl for a series of animated shorts titled "Marvel Rising" after performing as the character for the unaired live-action pilot "New Warriors."

Annika Noelle

One of the biggest commercials to drop in recent years was Geico's 2016 "Sleeping Beauty" ad, a part of the insurance company's "It's What You Do" campaign. The crowd-favorite promo gives a hilarious twist on the classic fairy tale, featuring the beauty waiting for her Prince Charming to leave so that she can watch TV. "If you want someone to leave you alone, you act like you're sleeping," narrates the voiceover. "It's what you do." While Sleeping Beauty actress  Annika Noelle  looks vaguely familiar to most, few realize how established she is.

Noelle had some minor work after starting her career in 2011, most notably starring in a web-series soap opera titled "Venice: The Series." However, her most significant role before becoming the sleeping princess was in the Clint Eastwood-directed 2014 film, "Jersey Boys." Thankfully, her appearance on the Geico commercial helped substantiate her career. Noelle landed an ongoing role as Hope Logan in the CBS series "The Bold and the Beautiful," where she remains a part of the regular cast. Her performance on the long-standing soap opera even earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2020.

Kevin Miles

It's safe to say that if you have a problem and need help with your insurance, there is one man you want to talk to: Jake from State Farm. A long-standing theme from the company's commercials, "Jake from State Farm" features an insurance agent answering calls from anyone in distress. Shockingly, the original Jake was an actual employee of the company, who was fittingly named Jake and happened to land the starring role in State Farm's new ad campaign. However, when the first "Jake from State Farm" left the company, it was time to find a new one.

Actor Kevin Miles has become more recognizable as "Jake from State Farm" than the original. Miles is undoubtedly the face of the company now, as he has appeared in an assortment of ads alongside stars like Patrick Mahomes and Drake. Yet, surprisingly, he almost didn't get the gig, noting in an interview with Forbes that the State Farm CMO told him, "I was not looking for you. I was definitely looking for the original 'Jake.' It was my wife that saw your callback sheet and said, 'That's your Jake' immediately." However, as iconic as his commercial character is, "Jake from State Farm" has many other acting roles you might recognize him from, including on TV shows "SWAT" and "Underdogs." His first acting credit was in the 2010 film "Innocent."

Stephanie Courtney

Always perky with her red lipstick and blue headband, Stephanie Courtney is instantly recognizable as Progressive spokesperson Flo. Starting in 2007, Courtney starred in dozens of commercials for the insurance company with her big smile and motherly personality. However, many Flo fans do not realize Courtney is a professional comedian, and her ad-libbing helped bring the character to life.

Working as a stand-up comic, Courtney joined the sketch comedy group The Groundlings alongside famous members like Will Forte and Jim Rash. She's appeared in many comedy programs throughout the years, including being a regular cast member of "Tom Goes to the Mayor" and "Mr. Show." Courtney had many established credits before working with Progressive, with roles on "ER" and "Mad Men." So, by the time she landed her Progressive commercial gig, she was ready to perform. As the story goes, Flo was supposed to be a friendly character who didn't stand out. However, by improvising some lines, she became the hilarious woman seen in the commercials and later was tasked with helping write some of the television ads. As Flo can still be seen wearing her well-pressed Progressive apron in promos today, Courtney continues to appear in "The Goldbergs," where she maintains a recurring role.

Natalie Palamides

As the insurance company's commercials gained popularity, the Progressive spokesperson stable grew. One of the most entertaining characters to join Stephanie Courtney's Flo is the awkwardly hilarious Mara. The new Progressive employee made her introduction by sharing the screen with Flo and has since appeared in an assortment of ads on her own and alongside her commercial co-stars. Unsurprisingly, much like Courtney, Mara actress Natalie Palamides was an up-and-coming comedian before landing the prominent insurance-selling gig.

Palamides has been working in Hollywood for some time, but most audiences heard her before seeing her face. She worked in voiceover acting for many years. Some of her cartoon credits include "Bob's Burgers" and "Duncanville," but she is best recognized as Buttercup from "The Powerpuff Girls." However, Palamides' true love is comedy, and she is famous for crossdressing as her toxic masculine-infused character named Nate. While it may be difficult to recognize the bright and quirky woman from the Progressive commercials, Palamides' manly character is the center of the 2020 Netflix comedy special "Nate: A One Man Show."

Jonathan Goldsmith

You don't become "the most interesting man in the world" without living a storied life first. And while he may not have done all the things the Dos Equis beer ads claim, Jonathan Goldsmith definitely offers one of the most interesting careers of any commercial actor. He has over 100 acting credits to his name, a majority coming before his appearance in the fan-favorite Dos Equis commercials, which aired between 2007 and 2015.

Goldsmith might not always act, but when he does, it is on some of the most popular television shows of all time. It would be hard not to consider him recognizable, as the actor's IMDb page reads like a greatest hits list of the '70s and '80s. A few of his appearances include "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "Hawaii Five-O," "Charlie's Angels," "Dallas," and "Knight Rider." Undoubtedly, Goldsmith's role as Dos Equis' "Most Interesting Man in the World" was fitting, and the seasoned actor even went on to write a book about his exploits in show business, titled "Stay Interesting: I Don't Always Tell Stories About My Life, But When I Do, They're True and Amazing."

Morgan Smith-Goodwin

It is hard to forget Morgan Smith-Goodwin as the face of commercials for Wendy's. Appearing on the restaurant's television ads between 2012 and 2016, Smith-Goodwin played the character Red; she was often mistaken for the real-life Wendy, who was founder Dave Thomas' daughter and appears in the company's logo. Rather, Smith-Goodwin is a natural blonde born in the small city of Cullman, Alabama. She studied theater and wanted to become an actress, but being the spokeswoman for Wendy's certainly changed her life.

Going back now, Red is recognizable from other popular projects. Smith-Goodwin managed to take her national audience as a commercial actress and turn it into an impressive acting career. The same year as her first Wendy's commercial, she landed a role in "Boardwalk Empire." She also appears on shows like "Veep," "Messiah," and "9-1-1." Most recently, Smith-Goodwin had a role on the spinoff sitcom "How I Met Your Father." Still, it is hard not to remember her as the red-headed girl chowing down on a Baconator and a Frosty.

Isaiah Mustafa

When it comes to commercial actors, there is one man who smells better than all the rest: Isaiah Mustafa . Headlining a series of Old Spice ads, Mustafa quickly gained popularity for being an all-round stud; seriously, the actor beat out famous heartthrob Fabio to become the hunkiest of them all in an online competition dubbed "Mano a Mano en El Bano." Beloved by everyone, Mustafa is featured in many Old Spice commercials and is a social media star representing the deodorant company.

However, long before becoming "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like," Mustafa had the goal of being a professional football player, having short stints with the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks practice squads. When things did not work out on the field, he turned his sights on acting, landing parts in "Ugly Betty," "Days of Our Lives," and "NCIS" before making it big as the Old Spice man. Becoming the recognizable hunk from the commercials paid off, as Mustafa enjoys a successful acting career, most prominently having a significant role in the 2019 horror film "It Chapter Two." Still, the actor is instantly identifiable as the smell good star for Old Spice and has returned to commercials for the company as recently as 2015 alongside Terry Crews.

Dean Winters

When it comes to commercial actors you know you've seen before but can't quite put your finger on where, Mayhem from the Allstate Insurance ads leads the pack. Actor Dean Winters has been portraying the rebellious Allstate character since 2010 and can still be spotted causing havoc in the company's commercials. However, he is undoubtedly a performer who has been in at least one project you've watched before.

Winters is a seasoned actor who has been on screens since 1995. He has made appearances in multiple television dramas, including "NYPD Blue," "Law and Order: SVU," and had a regular role on HBO's "Oz." However, Winters is probably most recognizable for his comedic recurring roles on sitcoms "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," as the competitive detective known as The Vulture, and "30 Rock," where he portrays Tina Fey's on-again-off-again love interest. Interestingly, Fey and Winter reunited onscreen for a 2019 Allstate Insurance commercial. Winters also has a few movie credits under his belt, including an appearance in "John Wick" and the Netflix comedy "The Out-Laws."

Vanessa Branch

Television viewers from the early 2000s will quickly remember the Orbit Gum girl, Vanessa Branch. The blonde British bombshell appeared in a series of commercials for the sugarless chewing gum brand between 2002 and 2010. Most of them involve Branch putting random citizens through a variety of dirty tests. The hypothesis is that Orbit Gum would keep their teeth a pearly "Fabulous" white. It would have been hard to miss Branch in her '60s-style outfits, as she appeared in dozens of commercials and was the company's spokeswoman from the first day Orbit hit shelves.

While Branch was keeping mouths clean the world over, she was also landing some substantial roles in Hollywood. Fans would have recognized her from small roles in films like "The Cell" and "John Q." However, Branch's biggest role came in 2003, when she landed the part of Giselle in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." Her character also appears in the franchise's first two sequels. Meanwhile, the actress has some notable television roles besides the iconic Orbit girl. She can be spotted in episodes of "Entourage," "Lost," and "Gilmore Girls."

All the celebrities who have played Colonel Sanders

Colonel Sanders is instantly recognizable as the founder and logo of the fast food fried chicken brand KFC. However, over the years, a slew of actors have pulled on the Colonel's clean white suit and identifiable white goatee, portraying the larger-than-life figure for commercials. One by one, some well-known talents embodied the Kentucky fried symbol, crafting their own version of the character along the way.

Some performers you may recognize behind the white-haired costume include comedians like Norm MacDonald, Rob Riggle, Jim Gaffigan, and Jason Alexander. A much burlier version of Sanders appeared in 2016 when WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler became the chicken-selling icon. From there, new versions of the Colonel appeared like characters from a Marvel multiverse movie. Actor Billy Zane became a "solid gold Colonel," while Reba McEntire became the first female Sanders. In 2019, the original "Robocop" actor, Peter Weller, portrayed a cyborg version of the KFC symbol, and Sean Astin semi-reprised his role as "Rudy" for a crossover version with the Colonel. Other notable names that have portrayed the fried food founder include Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta, Shawn Micheals, and George Hamilton.

Deanna Colón

Television viewers today have been treated to a musical experience in the shape of a commercial for Jardiance. The promotions feature a prescription medication that assists with blood sugar maintenance for those with type 2 diabetes. While the product may not be relevant for everyone, the musical theatrics are hard to forget, thanks to the female lead with some significant pipes. The outstanding performer is Deanna Colón , who might be more familiar than you think.

Colón has been a composer and has worked in musical departments for film and television for some time. Her notable credits include "Sex and the City," "The League," and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2." However, audiences first met the amazing singer when she hit the stage as a contestant for "America's Got Talent" in 2013. Under the name Deanna DellaCioppa, she caught the judges' attention with her rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls." Colón had a solid run at the competition before being eliminated in the quarter-semifinals. Subsequently, the boisterous singer has provided backup vocals for some significant acts, including Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber, and Paula Abdul.

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Celebrities open up to Demi Lovato about impact of fame in 'Child Star' documentary

Pop star Demi Lovato is asking her fellow former child stars a tough question: Is the price of fame worth your childhood?

In “Child Star,” which debuted Tuesday on Hulu, Lovato interviews fellow celebrities who grew up in the limelight about the highs and lows of fame at a young age. Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci, Kenan Thompson, JoJo Siwa, Alyson Stoner and Raven-Symoné all open up to Lovato about how their early fame has affected them as adults.

The film is the latest non-scripted program to offer a glimpse at the child entertainment industry, which has become the subject of scrutiny and criticism from many in the months since the release of “ Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV .” The explosive docuseries detailed allegations of toxic environments on producer Dan Schneider’s hit Nickelodeon shows. Many viewers felt there needed to be more protections for children in entertainment. 

“Child Star” also promises an “intimate look” at child stardom.” Here’s what the actors said about how fame affected them.

Lovato looked at her success as her ‘self-worth'

The documentary is Lovato’s directorial debut. She co-directed alongside Nicola Marsh, who is known for her work on the Apple TV+ docuseries “Omnivore” and the Showtime docuseries “The 12th Victim.”

But Lovato — who got her start on “Barney & Friends” — also appears in front of the camera for much of the documentary, interviewing fellow actors and opening up herself about her career trajectory. 

As a teenager, Lovato catapulted to stardom in the Disney Channel movie “Camp Rock” and starred in the network’s show “Sonny With a Chance.” 

“I looked at my success as my self-worth,” Lovato said in the documentary. “I had a really hard time differentiating the two, and I dealt with a lot of need for external validation.” 

Lovato described her grueling schedule working at the Disney Channel and her experience with burnout. “Nobody really knew how to stop the machine,” she said. “The train just kept moving. There were never any pauses.”

She said she filmed “Camp Rock,” recorded her first album, went on tour, filmed the first season of “Sonny With a Chance,” filmed the movie “Princess Protection Program,” recorded a new album, toured again, filmed “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” recorded another album and toured again without a break.

She described dissociating at times during some projects because of how difficult the environment was. She also described herself as being “difficult” to work with and apologized to her former colleagues Stoner and Raven-Symoné for her behavior toward them on various projects. 

The actors were both compassionate toward Lovato, who they noted had also been experiencing a lot of pressure. Stoner said they felt like they were “walking on eggshells” around Lovato during the filming of “Camp Rock 2.” Raven-Symoné said she noticed Lovato’s “glaze over the eyes.”

“I didn’t hold it against you. I was just, like, something’s going on there,” Raven-Symoné said.

Lovato has made several documentaries over the years detailing her experience with addiction, self-harm, mental health issues and the pressure of fame, including “Stay Strong” in 2012, “Simply Complicated” in 2017 and “Dancing With the Devil” in 2021.

Thompson says childhood fame is ‘not a normal existence’ 

Thompson, who has been a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” since 2003, rose to fame on Nickelodeon. He starred in several of the network’s popular shows and movies in the 1990s, including “All That,” “Good Burger” and “Kenan & Kel.” 

He said it’s important for child actors and their families to understand what kind of life they’re signing up for.

“It’s not a normal existence to have somebody in your family be famous,” Thompson said. 

He said it’s helpful to have a mentor who can help navigate the experience. He said that it was difficult at times to deal with rejection but that it kept him humble.

Toward the end of his Nickelodeon days, Thompson said, a financial adviser had stolen his earnings. He discovered the theft when he tried to buy a house and his adviser didn’t show up to help close the deal.

“It’s crazy going from rags to riches and back to rags,” Thompson said. 

Ricci describes her child acting experience as isolating

Ricci, who landed roles in movies like “The Addams Family” and “Casper” as a child, said she viewed acting as an escape from her dysfunctional home life.“For me, there was this refuge of emotional safety,” Ricci said of being on set. 

Ricci, who stars in “Yellowjackets,” said she was lucky to be surrounded by strong women early in her career, including Cher on the set of “Mermaids” in 1990. 

She described child acting as an isolating experience because she didn’t feel like she could talk about her work with other kids. She also said the amount of work child actors get can depend on how “easy” children and their parents appear. 

“The idea of agency … it didn’t even occur to me,” she said. 

Ricci said she turned to drugs and alcohol as a teenager because she felt she needed substances to be happy.

“If you felt like you had absolutely no control, it’s one of the few things you had control over,” she said.

Barrymore says she struggled with boundary-setting 

Barrymore, who went to rehab for addiction as a child, comes from a famous family of actors, and she described being “born into” entertainment. Her first job was a commercial when she was 11 months old. 

“E.T.: The Extraterrestrial,” which Barrymore starred in at 7 years old, was a “life-changing” experience, she said, praising director Steven Spielberg.

“He was also the first person I felt embarrassed in front of if I behaved badly or was caught drinking,” said Barrymore, who now hosts her own talk show. “There was no authority in my life, so I loved every boundary he set to me. It didn’t hit me until I was an adult. Oh, that’s how parents are supposed to make you feel.” 

Barrymore said that as a young star, she struggled with boundaries because child stars are expected to “open yourself up to everything.”

“When you turn yourself into a commodity, you’re talking about validation, you’re talking about feeling less than, you’re talking about losing people, gaining people,” Barrymore said. “That’s a serious mental gain that you need to have intact in order to handle it all.”

Stoner opens up about self-esteem issues

Stoner became famous as a child dancer in Missy Elliott’s “Work It” music video. The former child star, who uses they and them pronouns, then snagged various roles on the Disney Channel, including on “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” “Camp Rock” (alongside Lovato) and “Phineas and Ferb.”

Speaking with Lovato, Stoner said one of the toughest parts of childhood fame was seeing their pictures edited and airbrushed in teen magazines, which affected their self-esteem. 

“I didn’t know that those things were wrong with me before,” they said. 

They said they felt “terrified” about their appearance as a teen and struggled with an eating disorder promoting “Camp Rock” in Europe.

“People in my surrounding network had been taking money without me knowing for years,” Stoner said. 

Stoner has been outspoken about the impact of child stardom in the past. They created a podcast called “Dear Hollywood” analyzing the effect of fame on child development.

Raven-Symoné says she felt a lot of pressure to support her family

Raven-Symoné said that, as early as her role on “The Cosby Show” at 3 years old, she was aware of how she was financially supporting her family.

“I understood that this was a job,” said Raven-Symoné, who began acting at 16 months old. “If you lose it, you don’t make the money.”

She was one of the youngest Black women to have a show named after her when she starred in “That’s So Raven” on the Disney Channel. She said she felt a lot of pressure in the role.

“Sometimes, though, the parents’ dreams might bleed into the child’s,” she said. “And you get so enmeshed. Parents forget that children, young kids, are performing for their parents. They’re performing for their parents’ love and affection.” 

Siwa says coming out changed how she was viewed

Siwa, the dancer-actor-singer who rose to fame as a tween phenom on “Dance Moms ,” was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her public profile began to rise with the launch of her YouTube channel in early 2015. 

She said it was strange to have her likeness used as a character on Nickelodeon shows like “The J-Team” and “The JoJo & BowBow Show Show,” on which she played herself.

“It was weird being produced as an animation, almost,” Siwa said of marketing her image as a character.Siwa said that when she came out as part of the LGBTQ community as a teen, Nickelodeon started to treat her differently.

“Everything after I came out was changed,” she said. “The way they communicated with me changed, the way they worked with me changed, the way they developed my work changed.”

A spokesperson for Nickelodeon said in an email statement, “We are unaware of the incident JoJo is referencing and she was certainly not blackballed by Nickelodeon. We have valued and supported JoJo throughout our incredibly successful partnership, which included a JoJo-themed Pride collection at a major national retailer among our many collaborations together. We continue to cheer her on and wish her nothing but the best.”

Daysia Tolentino is a culture and internet reporter for NBC News.