Squire Fridell

Squire Fridell (born February 9, 1943) is a retired American actor, author and winemaker, known for his work in over three thousand television commercials.[1]

Squire Fridell
Fridell in 1977
Born (1943-02-09) February 9, 1943
Oakland, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of the Pacific
OccupationActor, author, winemaker
Years active1968–1996
Spouse(s)
Suzy McDermaid (m. 1977)
Children1

Early life

Fridell was born in Oakland, California. He attended the University of the Pacific where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Career

Fridell began his acting career on stage in South Carolina in 1968.[1]

From 1978 to 2012, he was a spokesman for the American TV ads for The Toyota Motor Corporation.[1] He is best known for his portrayal as the official Ronald McDonald clown character in American television commercials for the McDonald's Corporation chain of fast-food restaurants from 1984 to 1991, 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,[2] 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.

He is also the co-owner and operator of GlenLyon Vineyards.[1]

Author

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

Personal life

Squire and Suzy (a professional dancer and dance teacher for many years) were married in 1977.[3] They have one daughter, Lexy,[3] who is pursuing an acting career in New York City.[4] The family currently resides in Glen Ellen (in the Sonoma Valley region of that state) where they have operated the GlenLyon Vineyards and Winery since 1989.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Pink Motel George
1983 Imps* Newscaster
1986 Miracles Yates
1988 Mac and Me Ronald McDonald
1990 The Adventures of Ronald McDonald: McTresure Island Ronald McDonald (voice) Direct-to-video
1995 Village of the Damned The Sheriff

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1970 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Dr. Jessup Episode: "This Day's Child"
Ironside 1st Attendant Episode: "Little Dog, Gone"
The Young Lawyers George Nudavik Episode: "Where's Aaron"
1970–1972 Adam-12 Palmer, Goldstone, Floyd Bannister 3 episodes
1972 The Strangers in 7A Pete Television film
The Heist Martin Galvin
1973 Police Story Mod I.A. Man Episode: "Man on a Rock"
1975 The Missing Are Deadly Reporter #2 Television film
1976 Holmes and Yoyo Albert Episode: "Funny Money"
1977 Rosetti and Ryan Frank Ryan 7 episodes
1978 Operation Petticoat Lt. Meadows Episode: "Tostin Times Two"
Human Feelings Phil Sawyer Television film
1979 Vega$ Paul Baker Episode: "The Eleventh Event"
The Ropes Bill Episode: "Days of Beer and Roise"
Eight is Enough Pete Burkus Episode: "Mary, He's Married"
1981 M*A*S*H Cpl. Alvin Pice Episode: "Identity Crisis"
1984 Mama's Family Frank Palmer Episode: "Supermarket"
Newhart Uniform Officer Episode: "Go, Grandma, Go"
For Love or Money Howard Television film
1985–1991 McDonald Land Ronald McDonald 45 episodes
1991 Midnight Caller Bryon Walsh Episode: "A Cry in the Night"
1992 Bay City Story Douglas Turner Television film

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Top Gun: Fire at Will Air Boss

References
  1. "Bio Details (Squire)". GlenLyon Vineyards & Winery. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  2. "Squire Fridell Reveals How-to In Commercials". Anchorage Daily News. December 22, 1980. p. d-12.
  3. "Bio Details (Suzy)". GlenLyon Vineyards & Winery. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  4. "Bio Details (Lexy)". GlenLyon Vineyards & Winery. Retrieved March 22, 2020.


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