Remembering The Pillsbury Doughboy, An American Icon

The “belly poke,” followed by the playful giggle of the Pillsbury Doughboy is a sequence millions of Americans who grew up in the 20th century came to love. The doughboy, also known as Poppin’ Fresh, was created in 1965 as a project for Rudy Perz, a Wilmette man working for the well-known Leo Burnett advertising agency as a copywriter at the time.

According to the General Mills official website, Perz “popped open one of the cans and envisioned an image of a doughboy popping out.” Martin Nodell, one of the artists in the advertising group, then came up with a sketch of the character.

Perz died Wednesday at the age of 89. His death came almost exactly 50 years after the character debuted.

After opting against making the character animated, Perz debuted the American icon in March 1965. Three years later, he had “an 87 percent recognition factor” among consumers, General Mills stated.

Toys and even a companion doll - Poppie Fresh - were introduced in later years and were big hits.

RELATED: Creator of Pillsbury Doughboy Dies

A popular Internet meme created in 2012 jokes that the actual Doughboy died of a yeast infection due to being poked in his belly many times in his life.

“Dough Boy is survived by his wife, Play Dough; three children, John Dough, Jane Dough, and Dill Dough; plus they also had one in the oven,” the fake obituary reads. “He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. Services were held yesterday at 350 for about 20 minutes.”