Mikey

We all remember the cute kid from the Life Cereal commercial - Mikey. A reader from My Thoughts, Ideas and Ramblings recently asked me - “Whatever happened to Mikey?”

Mikey’s real name is John Gilchrist. In 1971 an advertising agency created a commercial for Life Cereal staring all three Gilchrist brothers. In the commercial the older two brothers (Michael and Tommy) are arguing over who should try the new Life Cereal that their mom just bought for them - “I’m not going to try it. You try it.” They finally get their younger brother (who “hates everthing”) to try it. “He likes it. Hey Mikey!” The ad was so popular that it ran on television from 1972 until 1987!

John Gilchrist later returned in 1987 to do another commercial for Quaker Oats. In addition he has been in commercials for Pepto Bismol, Skippy Peanut Butter and Jell-O. He quit doing commercials in 1988.

John is now a successful advertising executive.

A myth that has been circulating the internet for years was that John had died in a freak accident when he ate pop rocks and drank Coca Cola at the same time. Another rumor was that he choked to death after biting the head off of a GI Joe Doll. Don’t worry. John is still alive and these rumors are false!