You likely know him as the Pillsbury Doughboy, but he also answers to the name Poppin’ Fresh. Even though his adorably famous face is known the world over, there’s nothing this scrumptious celebrity likes more than lending a helping hand in the kitchen. Whether it’s getting weeknight dinners on the table fast or baking up sweet treats and magical memories to share with your loved ones, Poppin’ Fresh is always there for you with a bit of encouragement, a clever shortcut (Pillsbury Crescent Rolls are his favorite!), and his signature giggle, “Hoo hoo!” 

The idea for the Pillsbury Doughboy was born on March 18, 1965. Rudy Perz, a copywriter working on the Pillsbury account for Leo Burnett advertising agency in Chicago, came up with an idea for a brand mascot who would pop out of a can of refrigerated dough. Perz said inspiration for the character struck while he was testing out Pillsbury™ dough in his own kitchen. He named his creation Poppin’ Fresh—a nod to the product’s quality and freshness. 

Milt Schaffer was the designer who originally helped the Pillsbury Doughboy take shape. Rudy Perz worried the character might bear a bit too close of a resemblance to Casper the friendly ghost, but Schaffer’s design helped resolve that.

To bring the Doughboy to life, Leo Burnett partnered with Cascade Studios in Los Angeles to use stop-motion clay animation. Before computerization, it took 24 shots for every one second of commercial time. The initial Poppin’ Fresh model cost $16,000 to develop and had five bodies and 15 heads to allow for different positioning in the ads. In 1992 computer-generated imagery (CGI) technology replaced the original stop-motion version.

More than 50 actors auditioned to do the voice for the Pillsbury Doughboy, including Paul Winchell, also known as Tigger from “Winnie the Pooh.” Paul Frees (known for voicing Boris Badenov in “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle”) was the first voice actor for the character.

The Pillsbury Doughboy has been a hit from the very beginning. Just three years after his debut, the Doughboy had an 87 percent recognition factor among consumers! His popularity has continued through the years: There was a time when Pillsbury received 1,500 requests for autographed photos, and the Doughboy was receiving 200 fan letters a week.