Mia Patel
Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, has been portrayed by various celebrities in the company's ads over the years. In 2018, KFC released an ad for its chicken and waffles meal, featuring Colonel Sanders and Mrs. Butterworth recreating the iconic 'Dirty Dancing' lift scene. The ad starred actor Craig Fleming as Colonel Sanders, alongside a life-size, sentient Mrs. Butterworth syrup bottle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Col. Harland Sanders |
| Profession | Founder of KFC, spokesperson, brand ambassador, actor |
| Actor who played the role in the ad | Craig Fleming |
| Ad description | Recreates the iconic 'Dirty Dancing' lift scene with Mrs. Butterworth, a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup |
| Ad release date | November 2018 |
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What You'll Learn
- Colonel Harland Sanders founded KFC and was its brand ambassador
- The chicken and waffles ad features Colonel Sanders and Mrs. Butterworth recreating the 'Dirty Dancing' lift
- Actor Craig Fleming plays Colonel Sanders in the ad
- Comedian Jim Gaffigan played Colonel Sanders in another KFC ad
- Other celebrities who have played Colonel Sanders include George Hamilton, Norm Macdonald, and Randy Quaid
Colonel Harland Sanders founded KFC and was its brand ambassador
Colonel Harland Sanders founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and acted as its brand ambassador. Born on September 9, 1890, in Henryville, Indiana, Sanders held various jobs in his early life, including steam engine stoker, insurance salesman, and filling station operator. He began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression, developing his famous secret recipe and patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer.
Recognizing the potential of franchising, Sanders opened the first KFC franchise in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. However, as the company rapidly expanded to over 600 locations, it became overwhelming for Sanders, and in 1964, he sold the company for $2 million. Despite the sale, Sanders remained a salaried brand ambassador for KFC and continued to promote the company and its restaurants worldwide.
Sanders' iconic look and enduring legacy have made the role of Colonel Sanders in KFC advertisements instantly recognizable. Over the years, various celebrities have portrayed Sanders in KFC ads, including comedians, actors, and wrestlers, each bringing their unique twist to the character.
The impact of Colonel Harland Sanders extends beyond his role as KFC's founder and ambassador. He was also known for his charitable endeavours, establishing the Colonel Harland Sanders Charitable Organization in Canada and making substantial donations to hospitals for women's and children's care. Additionally, the KFC Foundation, inspired by Sanders' act of kindness towards a hitchhiker, has provided millions of dollars in educational assistance to students and employees.
Today, Colonel Harland Sanders remains a symbol of KFC, with his name and image still closely associated with the company he founded over 75 years ago. His original recipe of 11 herbs and spices is still served in KFCs worldwide, a testament to the enduring popularity and success of his creation.
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The chicken and waffles ad features Colonel Sanders and Mrs. Butterworth recreating the 'Dirty Dancing' lift
KFC's Colonel Sanders, the founder of the fast-food chain, has been featured in numerous advertisements for the company since his death in 1980. Harland Sanders, the original Colonel, was known for his distinctive appearance and served as a spokesperson and brand ambassador for the company, appearing in television commercials and other promotional activities.
In one of KFC's recent advertisements from 2018, Colonel Sanders, played by actor Craig Fleming, dances with a life-size, sentient Mrs. Butterworth syrup bottle to the song "Time of My Life" from the film Dirty Dancing. The ad ends with Sanders lifting Butterworth over his head, recreating the iconic lift from the film, originally performed by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The ad promotes KFC's limited-time offering of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Waffles, with a side of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, available from November 12 to December 31.
The choice of Craig Fleming to portray Colonel Sanders in this ad campaign marks a departure from KFC's previous approach of using well-known celebrities. Past celebrities who have played the role include Darrell Hammond, Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton, Rob Riggle, Billy Zane, Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta, and Christopher Boyer. These actors brought their unique styles and humour to the role, often poking fun at the campaign or portraying exaggerated versions of the Colonel.
The Colonel Sanders and Mrs. Butterworth ad received attention for its unexpected pairing and recreation of a well-known film scene. It showcases KFC's playful approach to advertising, leveraging pop culture references and a non-celebrity actor to create a memorable and entertaining promotion for their chicken and waffles menu item.
KFC has a history of creating viral ads, such as the one featuring Reba McEntire as the company's first female Colonel and another ad starring Hodor from Game of Thrones, played by Kristian Nairn, being overwhelmed by customers. These ads, including the Colonel Sanders and Mrs. Butterworth spot, showcase KFC's creative and innovative approach to marketing their products and engaging their audience.
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Actor Craig Fleming plays Colonel Sanders in the ad
Actor Craig Randall Fleming, who was born and raised in Southern California, portrayed Colonel Sanders in the KFC chicken and waffles ad. In the ad, Fleming, dressed as the iconic Colonel, dances and bonds with a life-size, sentient Mrs. Butterworth, a syrup bottle, to the tune of "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. The ad ends with Sanders lifting Butterworth over his head, recreating the iconic Patrick Swayze lift.
Fleming, who has worked as a Disney character walk-around and a seance medium at a private magic club, later developed games and scripts for Alchemy II, the creators of Teddy Ruxpin. He then spent several years in Paris as a senior concepteur/redacteur for the creation of Euro Disneyland. In addition to acting and writing, Fleming has also pursued a career in education, serving as the Education Director for South Coast Repertory and teaching university theatre.
Fleming's portrayal of Colonel Sanders marks a departure from KFC's recent campaigns, as he is not a well-known celebrity. Previous actors who have played Colonel Sanders in KFC ads include Darrell Hammond, Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton, and Rob Riggle.
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Comedian Jim Gaffigan played Colonel Sanders in another KFC ad
Comedian Jim Gaffigan played Colonel Sanders in a KFC ad. In the ad, his character wakes up from a nightmare in which Norm Macdonald's Colonel Sanders was his impostor. Gaffigan's Colonel Sanders wakes up in a cold sweat and says, "Boy, I sure do have a lot of nightmares about chicken." This ad is part of a series of meta and silly KFC advertisements.
Gaffigan is a six-time Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, three-time Emmy-winning top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling recording artist. He is known for his unique brand of humour, which centres around his observations on life. Forbes listed him as one of the top ten earning comedians in 2019.
Many celebrities have portrayed Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of KFC and the patent holder of its fried chicken recipe, in various KFC ads. Darrell Hammond, Norm Macdonald, George Hamilton, WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler, Rob Riggle, Billy Zane, Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta, and Christopher Boyer are among the famous people who have played the role.
In 2018, KFC released an ad for its Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles, featuring Colonel Sanders and Mrs. Butterworth recreating the iconic 'Dirty Dancing' lift scene. Actor Craig Fleming played Colonel Sanders in this ad, which marked a departure from KFC's recent campaigns as he was not a well-known celebrity.
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Other celebrities who have played Colonel Sanders include George Hamilton, Norm Macdonald, and Randy Quaid
The role of Colonel Sanders in KFC's advertising campaigns has been played by a plethora of celebrities, including George Hamilton, Norm Macdonald, and Randy Quaid.
George Hamilton, known for his roles in The Godfather Part III and American Housewife, portrayed the "Extra Crispy Colonel" to promote KFC's extra crispy chicken meal. Hamilton's famously tanned complexion was incorporated into the ad's humour.
Norm Macdonald, an SNL alum, took a self-aware approach to the role, claiming that he was the “real” Colonel Sanders and that the previous Colonel was an "impostor".
Randy Quaid, an American actor and comedian, has appeared in over 90 films. Quaid is known for his versatility, taking on both serious drama and light comedy roles. He received nominations for his performances in The Last Detail (1973), A Streetcar Named Desire (1984), and Elvis (2005). Quaid brought his own unique style to the role of Colonel Sanders, adding to the list of celebrities who have embodied the iconic KFC founder.
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Frequently asked questions
Col. Harland Sanders was the founder of KFC and the creator of its fried chicken recipe. He was also a spokesperson and brand ambassador for the company.
Actor Craig Fleming played Colonel Sanders in the chicken and waffles ad.
In the ad, Colonel Sanders dances with a life-size, sentient Mrs. Butterworth to the song "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. The ad ends with Sanders lifting Butterworth over his head, recreating the iconic Patrick Swayze lift.
The ad promoted Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles, which were sold from November 12 through December 31. Meals including fried chicken or tenders, waffles, and a side of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup started at $5.49.
Several actors and celebrities have portrayed Colonel Sanders in KFC ads, including Darrell Hammond, Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton, Rob Riggle, Billy Zane, Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta, and Christopher Boyer.
