JoBe Cerny, best known as the voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, died on Oct. 30 at age 78 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
From Improv Stages to a Chicago Recording Empire
Cerny’s career began in the 1970s when he joined The Second City, performing on both its Mainstage and national touring company. Leveraging that experience, he founded Cerny/American Creative Recording Studio in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, where he ran operations for more than three decades. The studio churned out thousands of projects, ranging from commercials and audiobooks to feature films.
The Word of Promise: A 98‑Hour Biblical Epic
Among Cerny’s most ambitious undertakings was directing “The Word of Promise,” a dramatized audio rendition of the New King James Version of the Bible. The production spanned 98 hours and enlisted over 500 actors, including Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Marisa Tomei as Mary Magdalene, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, Gary Sinise as David, Jason Alexander as Joseph, Max von Sydow as Noah, Jon Voight as Abraham, Luke Perry as Judas, and Marcia Gay Harden as Esther.
Screen Appearances and Brand Voices
Cerny’s on‑screen résumé includes small roles in “Somewhere in Time” (desk clerk), “My Best Friend’s Wedding” (tailor), and “Road to Perdition” (banker). He also portrayed the silent “Cheer Man” for Procter & Gamble’s Cheer detergent, and lent his voice to brands such as Raid and Scrubbing Bubbles. In 2014 he succeeded Paul Frees and Jeff Bergman as the high‑pitched voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, a role he held until about 2020.
Personal Passions and Legacy
Outside the studio, Cerny was an avid go‑kart racer who continued competing into his 60s and a dedicated model‑train collector. He earned a bachelor’s in speech and drama from Valparaiso University and a master’s in theater from Northwestern University.
Cerny is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eileen, two sons, Tim and Patrick, and grandchildren Archer and Cleo.
Sources
- JoBe Cerny, Voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, Dies at 78
- JoBe Cerny, Actor, Director and Voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, Dies at 78
- JoBe Cerny, Chicago area native and voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, dies at 78
- Pillsbury Doughboy voice actor, JoBe Cerny, dies at 78: Report
- JoBe Cerny, Pillsbury Doughboy Voice Actor, Dies at 78
- JoBe Cerny, Pillsbury Doughboy Voice Actor, Dead at 78 Following Battle With Alzheimer’s Disease
Photo: Daniel Hartwig from San Jose, CA, USA (CC BY 2.0)
