Real Name: Pete Grosz
Salary Deal: $300,000
Peter Grosz is known as one of America’s most talented T.V writers. Most people will recognize him as one of the “Two Guys” from the drive-in Sonic commercials. He appeared in the double act with co-star comedian and improviser, T.J. Jagodowski.
For more than a decade, Grosz starred in the Sonic commercials, earning him over $300,000 (net that is). Sonic’s Chief Marketing manager said, that Grosz has turned into “the voice” of Sonic, as that he (and his second half) will probably be part of their DNA for good.
The “Whassup?” Guy
Real Name: Charles Stone III
Salary Deal: $8 million
It launched a brand new...noise...into the lexicon, but the man behind the sound, Charlies Stone III, has gone on to become a famous member of the entertainment industry. As an actor and director, he's worked with Nick Cannon, Bernie Mac, and plenty of other famous faces, directing Drumline, Mr. 3000, Paid in Full, and lots more. He's done music videos like The Roots' What They Do.
While the ad itself was simple and memorable, it also netted Stone eight million dollars. The Budweiser commercial just had a pair of goofs shouting at each other, and it ended up good for all. Unless you hate “Whassup.”
The Guy From Sonic Commercials
Real Name : T.J. Jagodowski
Salary Deal : $300,000
As an improv comedian, T.J.'s unique brand of off-the-cuff humor caught the eye of Sonic when they were on the hunt for a new face for their ads. Jagodowski is a Chicago-based actor who appeared alongside actor Pete Grosz, and the two almost always improvised their lines.
Jagodowski has won Chicago Improv Festival's “Best Improviser” award. His deal with Sonic netted him $300,000, but he's also had roles in films such as Get Hard, The Ice Harvest, Stranger than Fiction, and more. He's also had a bit role in the Fox show Prison Break.
The GEICO Gecko
Real Name: Jake Wood
Salary Deal: $3 million
Born in England, Jake Wood provides the voice of the famous insurance reptile for GEICO. Wood is also the star of the legendary British soap opera EastEnders. He voiced the gecko for ten years before being replaced in 2015. His total salary deal was three million dollars.
He revealed on social media that he had lost the gig due to not accepting a “huge pay cut.” He first appeared on the commercials in 2006, when he replaced Kelsey Grammer as the British gecko who seems to think the only thing people want to talk about is car insurance. Beat it, reptile.
The Duncan Hines Redhead
Real Name: Lindsay Lohan
Salary Deal: $7,500
We all know about this world-famous redhead now, but when she was just a child – before even The Parent Trap – Ms. Lohan spent plenty of time acting in commercials. One such commercial was for Duncan Hines, which got Lindsay for a salary of only $7,500.
Lindsay's mother Dina took her to the audition and reported Lindsay would quit acting if she didn't get the part for the commercial. Luckily for fans of the remake of The Parent Trap, she stuck with it. Duncan Hines peddles plenty of sweet treats, but the best thing they might have done was get Lohan's career started.