Squire Fridell

Squire Fridell
Fridell (left) with Julie Cobb and Tony Roberts in 1977
Born (1943-02-09) February 9, 1943
Oakland, California, U.S.
Residence Glen Ellen, California
Education University of the Pacific
Occupation Actor, co-owner/operator of GlenLyon Vineyards
Years active 1965–present
Spouse(s)
Suzy Fridell (m. 1977)
[1]
Children 1

Squire Fridell (born February 9, 1943) is an American actor and co-owner and operator of GlenLyon Vineyards,[2] perhaps best known for his infectious enthusiasm displayed in over three thousand television commercials.

Career

Since 1978, he has portrayed “The Toyotaman” in American TV ads for The Toyota Motor Corporation. From 1985 to 1991, he served as the official "Ronald McDonald" clown character in American television commercials for the McDonald's Corporation chain of fast-food restaurants, and even played the character in Mac and Me and the voice talent of a character in the 1989 DiC animated film The Adventures of Ronald McDonald: McTreasure Island. From the 1970s until the mid-1990s, Fridell also had supporting character roles in a number of popular TV series, such as Rosetti and Ryan, M*A*S*H, Newhart, Ironside and Adam-12.

In 1980, Harmony Books published Fridell's book, Acting in Television Commercials for Fun and Profit,[3] subsequently re-released by Random House in 2005.

Fridell returned as himself in several Toyota commercials in 2010, responding to the image damage the company suffered due to a slow response to safety issues in 2009.

In the summer of 1961, Squire Fridel III, was a seasonal firefighter for the California Department of Forestry (CDF), (now called Cal-Fire) and was stationed at the Alder Point Station in Humboldt, California. He reported directly to CDF Engineer Del Schank, Sr. who went on to make a career in the CDF as a fire captain and still lives in Napa, CA. He is fondly remembered for his cooking abilities and his midnight appropriations of car fenders. His sense of humor was clearly evident even at this early stage of his life. That same summer, he worked with the now-famous Keith Kay, of NBC and CBS War Photographer and producer fame.

Author

Fridell, Squire. Acting in Television Commercials for Fun and Profit, 4th Edition (2009). Penguin Random House.

Personal life

Fridell was born in Oakland, California. He attended the University of the Pacific where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He currently resides with his wife, Suzy, at Glen Ellen (in the Sonoma Valley region of that state) where they have operated the GlenLyon Vineyards and Winery since 1989. Squire and Suzy (a professional dancer and dance teacher for many years) have one daughter, Lexy, who is pursuing an acting career in New York City.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.glenlyonwinery.com/about/family-clan/details/3
  2. ↑ https://www.glenlyonwinery.com/about/family-clan/details/2
  3. ↑ "Squire Fridell Reveals How-to In Commercials". Anchorage Daily News. December 22, 1980. p. d-12.


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