Dresslar, Elmer Jr.(Len)

US voice actor

1925 - Born- in St. Francis, Kansas,

Baritone singer

1940s - He served as in the U.S. Navy in World War II before studying voice at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

1953 - After several years honing his acting skills in Midwest summer stock, Dresslar relocated to New York City, appearing on Broadway and joining the national touring company of South Pacific before settling in Chicago.

1955-1960 - There he joined the cast of CBS affiliate WBBM's live variety series In Town Tonight, which aired nightly. During that time, Dresslar also began moonlighting as a voice-over talent.

1959 was hired by the Leo Burnett Agency to record a new television spot for the Green Giant vegetable line. Cast as the company's leaf-clad mascot, the Jolly Green Giant, Dresslar intoned the character's booming tag line "Ho, ho, ho," and a legend was born. The magazine Advertising Age later named the Jolly Green Giant one of the 20th century's most recognizable commercial icons, behind only Tony the Tiger and the Marlboro Man. Dresslar went on to serve as the voice of Snap, of Kellogg's Rice Krispies Snap-Crackle-and-Pop fame, as well as Dig 'Em, the bullfrog touting the cereal giant's Sugar Smacks product. He later said residuals from his jingle work put his children through college.

Voice of Jolly Green Giant in television commercials for Green Giant vegetables.

1960s - Dresslar also sang with the jingle vocal group the J's with Jamie before recording 15 LPs with the jazz troupe Singers Unlimited. He retired from performing in 1991.

Besides the Jolly Green Giant, He recorded jingles and other spots for many brands, the elfin character Snap from Snap-Crackle-Pop Rice Krispies, Dig-'em, the frog in Kellogg's Sugar Smacks commercials, the voice in the Dinty Moore beef stew commercials, and the voice of the Marlboro Man. He also sang "When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer."