The history of the Gi Joe William Perry commercial dates back to 1985 when the toy company Hasbro created a toy line called G.I. Joe A Real American Hero. As part of its marketing campaign, the company created a series of television commercials featuring then-NFL star William "The Refrigerator" Perry. The ads were incredibly successful, gaining a massive amount of attention and making Perry into a household name. The commercial featured Perry in full G.I. Joe uniform, with a voiceover intoning, “He’s tough, he’s athletic, he can run, catch, and tackle – William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry!” In the ad, Perry is then seen running through a field with a giant G.I. Joe figure strapped to his back. The ad ends with the tagline “G.I. Joe – America’s Movable Fighting Man.” The commercial was an immediate hit, and it made Perry an overnight celebrity. He was even invited to appear on various TV shows, such as “Good Morning America” and “Nightline”, as a result of his newfound fame. The commercial also cemented G.I. Joe’s place in pop culture history, becoming one of the most recognizable commercials of its time. It proved so popular that Hasbro later released a set of G.I. Joe figures featuring Perry in full G.I. Joe gear.
Even today, more than thirty years later, the Gi Joe William Perry commercial remains an iconic piece of pop culture.
