The GEICO caveman is back.
GEICO's iconic character is back on screens for his 20-year anniversary, and what better time to make a return than during the NFL playoffs.
A new GEICO ad shows a self-aware caveman waking up in the middle of the night and grappling with a reminder of what used to be. As part of the commercial, the caveman considers whether he wants to be part of a documentary that would allow him to "set the record straight."
The commercial was the first in what is expected to be a series of ads featuring the GEICO caveman. Another has already been released, depicting the same caveman watching a preview for a documentary praising the GEICO gecko and walking away feeling bitter. It's not hard to see where this is headed.
Here's a look at which actors plays the GEICO caveman, plus a timeline of past GEICO cavemen.
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Who plays the GEICO caveman?
Jeff Daniel Phillips is playing the GEICO caveman in the insurance company's latest set of commercials.
Phillips was one of the earliest GEICO cavemen, along with Ben Weber. He returned to resume his role in this latest series of ads, a decision that makes plenty of sense considering they are supposed to depict an older caveman who has spent time away from the spotlight.
Phillips has made several appearances in movies and on television, including appearances in "CSI: Miami" and Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," but the Chicago-born actor remains best known for playing the GEICO caveman.
Phillips also played one of the cavemen in the ABC spinoff series "Caveman" in 2007, though the show lasted less than two months.
Original GEICO Caveman commercial
The original GEICO caveman commercial aired in 2004, showing a caveman storming off the set of a commercial when a GEICO representative says the company's website is so easy to use that "even a caveman can do it."
The caveman, played by John Lehr, takes offense and storms off, which sets the tone for future commercials depicting modern caveman as offended by GEICO's tagline.
GEICO caveman actor history
At least five actors have played the GEICO caveman in the company's commercials:
- Jeff Daniel Phillips
- Ben Weber
- John Lehr
- Ben Wilson
- Jim Rose
While Phillips and Weber played some of the earliest cavemen after the ads debuted in 2004, Lehr is the actor who has played the caveman most frequently. Lehr was also the actor featured in the original commercial, and he has said the makeup for the character takes three hours to apply.
