The Brad Pitt Pringles Ad You Never Knew Existed

There's no denying TV advertisements have an influence on American culture. While the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of TV commercials today is another debate, some can say with assurance that a well-executed TV ad with a storyline, humor, an iconic character, or a tagline can become a memorable hit among viewers. But if that's the case, how on Earth have so many people forgotten the 1989 Pringles ad? Hey, it had the "fever reliever" catchphrase, a bunch of euphoric boys and girls, quick zooms, all the elements to imitate a music video, and a shirtless — wait for it — Brad Pitt! 

Yes, you read that right. A shirtless Brad Pitt, the prince of our nostalgic dreams, starred in a Pringles ad before making it big in Hollywood. It isn't surprising, countless actors have used TV commercials as the starting point of their careers. From Ben Affleck getting an early break with a 1989 Burger King commercial to one of the most beloved actors Keanu Reeves starring in a 1987 Corn Flakes commercial, several Hollywood names appeared in less glamorous gigs before getting their big break. 

So one could say that the Pringles ad perfectly explains why Brad Pitt is always eating in his movies. Pitt's irresistible charm in the ad appears to have been just the start of the actor's path to superstardom.

Brad Pitt was only 26 years old back when he appeared in the classic Pringles commercial. In the ad, Pitt and his group of surfer buddies run out of the tasty snack. Coincidently, their car also breaks down and they are stranded on the side of the road. Frustration soon follows, because what are they to do without Pringles? Luckily, one of Pitt's friends spots a group of girls who happens to be carrying a tote bag filled with the potato-based crisps. And the group of ladies is happy to share their bag of goodness with complete strangers. Then, we see a shirtless Pitt snacking on Pringles, before the ad's jingle belts out "I've got the fever, the fever reliever" (via YouTube).

Little did we know at that time that the charismatic young Pitt would get a breakthrough role in the 1991 movie "Thelma and Louise," and become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. 

Interestingly, the Pringles ad wasn't his first gig before he became an A-lister. Pitt also worked at El Pollo Loco before going big. The "Interview with the Vampire" actor appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2019 and revealed what his job entailed. Per Insider, he had to wear a chicken mascot costume to hand out fliers and attract customers for a store's grand opening at Sunset and La Brea in Los Angeles, California. Hey, everyone's got to start somewhere.