Sleepy-Eyed Dunkin' Donuts Actor Vale Dies

**Kalista** · 12-28-2005, 10:21 AM

NEW YORK - Michael Vale, the actor best known for portraying sleepy-eyed Fred the Baker in Dunkin' Donuts commercials, has died at age 83.

Vale died Saturday in New York City of complications from diabetes, son-in law Rick Reil said.

Ads featuring Fred, who uttered the trademark line "Time to make the doughnuts," ran for 15 years until Vale retired in 1997.

Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts said in a statement that Vale's character "became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature."

Vale was born in Brooklyn and studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop in New York City with classmates Tony Curtis, Ben Gazzara and Rod Steiger.

A veteran of the Broadway stage, film and television, Vale appeared in more than 1,300 TV commercials. His movie roles included a jewelry salesman in "Marathon Man." He also appeared in "Guerrilla Girl," a 1953 movie starring Helmut Dantine, and "A Hatful of Rain" (1957), starring Don Murray and Eve Marie Saint.

deafclimber · 12-28-2005, 10:25 AM

ah that donut man... rest in peace with his favorite donuts.

horselover61 · 12-28-2005, 04:07 PM

Yea I remmy that commerical and i love it. It been a long time since I saw his face. Rest in peace my fav dount man.

Heath · 12-28-2005, 07:39 PM

The first time I ever saw and went in to eat some Dunkin' Donuts was in Boston, Massasschusetts. That was my first real exposure to D.D. God Bless and Rest in peace, take it easy Michael Vale, the actor.

Nancy · 12-28-2005, 08:40 PM

I remember him in those Dunkin Donuts commericals....RIP.

12-28-2005, 10:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
deafclimber Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: hotlanta Posts: 3,569	ah that donut man... rest in peace with his favorite donuts. __________________ Feel free to PM me if you have any question about Windows Mobile or AT&T Mobiliy's TAPs.

12-28-2005, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
horselover61 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,664 Blog Entries: 2	Yea I remmy that commerical and i love it. It been a long time since I saw his face. Rest in peace my fav dount man. __________________ Check out my city!! http://furbyland.myminicity.com/

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12-28-2005, 07:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Heath Banned Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 8,088	The first time I ever saw and went in to eat some Dunkin' Donuts was in Boston, Massasschusetts. That was my first real exposure to D.D. God Bless and Rest in peace, take it easy Michael Vale, the actor.

12-28-2005, 08:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nancy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central FL Posts: 2,288	I remember him in those Dunkin Donuts commericals....RIP.