JoBe Cerny, the actor and voice artist best known as the voice of the cheerful Pillsbury Doughboy in commercials, has died at 78 after battling Alzheimer’s disease. Cerny died on October 30 at his home in Grayslake, Illinois, his family announced .
In a 2007 interview, Cerny recalled the changing opinions around the character’s future. He added that after one executive attempted to remove the character’s voice, the Doughboy eventually returned with more appearances.
He said some executives wanted to reduce the Doughboy’s presence, while others later expanded the role. “Sometimes [Pillsbury gets] a new executive,” Cerny said.
Cerny built a diverse career as an actor, producer, director and studio owner. He appeared in films, which include, Somewhere in Time (1980), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) and Road to Perdition (2002).
Reflecting on his career, Cerny once said he was grateful for a profession that allowed him to transform himself constantly. “I’m lucky, I get to be somebody different every day,” he said. “I’m glad I stuck with my irresponsible decision to have fun.”
