Actor who starred as original Mr. Clean dies at 92
Last Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2008 | 10:44 AM ET
CBC News
House Peters Jr., left, is seen in this 1951 file photo with his father, silent screen star House Peters during the shooting of the Gene Autry film The Old West. Peters Jr. was the original Mr. Clean in Proctor & Gamble's household cleaner commercials. (Associated Press)House Peters Jr., a character actor who became an advertising icon after starring as Proctor & Gamble's original Mr. Clean, has died at age 92.
Peters died of pneumonia on Wednesday at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Los Angeles, according to his son, Jon Peters.
The New York-born, Beverly Hills-raised actor grew up in a show business family: his parents were silent screen star House Peters Sr. and actress Mae King Peters. He later wrote an autobiography, Another Side of Hollywood, about growing up with his famous parents.
Though he studied drama and began his career upon graduating from high school, he never achieved leading-man status.
Over a three-decade career, Peters starred in a host of Westerns and was a frequent character actor on television, appearing on shows such as Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone and Lassie.
"He always played the heavy," Jon Peters said, referring to how his father was usually cast as brawny or villainous characters.
"Even though he wasn't happy about being cast in those roles, he worked really hard at it."
Peters also served in the U.S. army's Air Sea Rescue team during the Second World War.
His biggest role, however, came later in life: in the late 1950s through the early 1960s, he starred as Mr. Clean, the bald, muscular pitchman for the household cleaner with the now-iconic jingle.
After about three decades of largely supporting roles, however, Peters decided to end his acting career. He worked in real estate until his retirement.
Later in life, Peters kept a toe in show business with occasional appearances at film festivals dedicated to Westerns. In 2000, he won a Golden Boot Award for his contribution to the genre.
Peters is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren.
With files from the Associated Press
