Commercial Stars You Might Not Know Died

Television advertising can make an enormous pop-cultural impact. Just ask anyone who watches the Super Bowl "for the commercials"! Back in the mid-to-late 20th century, especially, hugely popular TV spots helped launch careers and make so-called "pitchmen" into household names. Charismatic figures like Billy Mays and Ron Popeil were even called upon to promote a wide variety of unrelated products, sometimes during long infomercials that extended their commercial pitches into 30-minute programs, often airing late into the night. Ever wonder what happened to these once-ubiquitous spokespeople, models, and actors? Here are a few commercial stars you might not know died.