Jobe Cerny, Beloved Pillsbury Doughboy Voice, Dies at 78 After Long Career
A familiar advertising voice
Cerny was best known for voicing the Pillsbury Doughboy, a role that made him recognizable to generations of viewers. He also portrayed The Cheer Man, the silent spokesperson for Cheer Detergent.
His career included commercial work and other projects spanning more than five decades. His son Tim told TMZ that Cerny had stepped away from voice acting after his health declined.
Film roles and personal interests
Cerny appeared in films including Legally Blonde 2, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Road to Perdition and Prelude to a Kiss. His work extended beyond the advertising characters for which he was most widely known.
An obituary posted on a funeral website described him as a racing enthusiast who drove go-karts into his 60s and collected model trains. It also recalled that his friendly, outgoing nature often led him to encounter people he knew.
Family and final years
Cerny’s son Tim said his father died in Illinois on October 30, around six years after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The report says he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eileen, and sons Tim and Patrick.
The account also says he is survived by “two children,” without explaining how that relates to the two sons it names. That leaves the description of his surviving children unclear.
Key points
- JoBe Cerny died in Illinois on October 30 at age 78.
- He voiced the Pillsbury Doughboy and portrayed Cheer Detergent’s silent spokesperson, The Cheer Man.
- Cerny worked in commercials and other projects for more than 50 years and appeared in several films.
- His son said Cerny had Alzheimer’s and had left voice acting as his health declined.