Entertainment
JoBe Cerny, the man behind the Pillsbury Doughboy's famous giggle, has died at 78
JoBe Cerny, who gave the Pillsbury Doughboy its voice and trademark giggle, died October 30 in Illinois after a battle with Alzheimer's. He was 78.
The voice behind one of the most famous giggles in advertising has gone quiet. JoBe Cerny, the actor who spent years speaking for the Pillsbury Doughboy, has died. He was 78.
His son Tim Cerny says his father passed away on October 30 in Illinois.
According to Tim, the veteran performer was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease around 2020. As his health got worse he had to give up voicing the cheerful mascot around that same time.
A giggle everyone knows
Cerny worked in entertainment for decades. Still, nothing he did was as instantly recognizable as the Doughboy, officially named Poppin' Fresh. The little white figure is known for letting out a giggle whenever someone pokes his belly.
Thousands of commercials
Over a career that stretched past 50 years, Cerny turned up in thousands of commercials along with other productions. One of his better-known gigs was playing the silent pitchman for Cheer laundry detergent.
Life away from the camera
His family says Cerny had plenty of passions off the set. He loved racing go-karts. He also collected model trains.
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